What started as a way for one Sunnyside mom to earn income and still stay home with her young son has turned into one of the better amenities and, at times, one of the best kept secrets of our part of Southeast Portland.
Regular out of town guests, who really like the Hawthorne District vibe, may know more about Historic Hawthorne Rentals than you or I do, but this email is intent on changing that.
In case you haven’t already noticed, inner Southeast Portland has a serious lack of “guest services” – no major hotels and precious few smaller boutique hotels until you get across the river into downtown.
Shelley Carmichael and Chris Landis, two of our original Swap Shop members, have spent the last several years purchasing and fixing up eclectic neighborhood houses near Belmont and Hawthorne. They have created little havens of hospitality for vacationers and our own families’ out of town guests – Nine different properties that range from sweet little studios great for a romantic couples’ getaway (think a stay-cation for you and a sitter at home for the kids) to several 3 bedroom houses right near each other for family reunions or out of town wedding guests. You can see pictures and descriptions of all the properties, including Taylor House and the Garden Cottage Studio at www.historichawthornerentals.com.
Clare, Historic Hawthorne Rental’s wonderful “voice on the phone” when you call for a reservation, and I remind each other often that we are both in the very honorable business of encouraging people to invest a bit more up front in order to spend much less and live better in the long run.
As I’ve gotten to know her world, I was delighted to discover that understanding the cost to benefit ratio of renting a vacation home vs. just getting a hotel room is a lot like figuring out the value of your Swap Shop membership compared to getting an annual membership at OMSI or the Children’s museum.
I think Clare and Shelley and Chris will agree with me when I say it all comes down to that “next best thing to home” quality that you just can’t get from an ice machine down the hall or a play park full of people you’ll never see again.
With the swap shop, the added value is, of course, in the swapping but also in the live performances and meet up classes (music, arts and crafts, gym) that you don’t have to sign up for, pay for, and then, inevitably, miss at least a few and “waste” your money.
With home rentals, the added value starts with the kitchen. Eating every meal out when you are on vacation seems fun at first but it adds up and weighs you down! Also, nobody likes to pack up every little thing that makes you and your kids comfortable and haul it across town or across the country.
I’m pretty sure Clare’s favorite part of her job is keeping a cool inventory of dishes, books and toys at all their properties so it’s like you’ve shown up at your grandparent’s fully stocked cabin in the woods. And, if you have anyone really little in your family, she has those ever important pack and plays too.
So what does it cost to stay at a place where you can do your own laundry (if you really want to) and wake up to breakfast your way? High season for Historic Hawthorne Rentals doesn’t start until May so, until then, you can slip into a studio for as little as $90 a night and get a 3 bedroom for less than $180. Keep in mind that the longer you (or your loved ones) stay the more cost effective it is since, regardless of the number of days you stay, you pay up front for just a one time cleaning fee of $60 -$100 (depending on the rental size).
These eclectic and charming houses and studios are always about 98% booked through the busy summer season, so if you have a friend or a relative that needs more than your not-so-spare bedroom when the sun is shining again in Portland, better to book now.
Also, it may seem an eternity away, but if you are still remembering how everyone was a little to close for comfort during the holidays, Clare is already setting up next December’s holiday housing.
Every time I pad around the church building from the Swap Shop to The Roost and into the gym, I marvel at the square footage we have all added to our lives by joining together as a co-op. Shelley and Chris and Clare’s creativity and passion for beautiful space gives us even more square footage to choose from while their Roost sponsorship opens up options too for some great Southeast families.
Clare ends every email she sends me with the motto: Thank you for thinking of making our home your home. If you are thinking of getting away or bringing family and friends closer by, give Clare a call. You’ll be glad you did.
Historic Hawthorne Rentals
Clare Burch
Phone: 360-910-4783 or 360-907-0154
www.historichawthornrentals.com
Clare@historichawthornerentals.com
