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Dear Californians Moving To Coeur d'Alene

by KIMBER LONDON/Coeur Voice contributor
| January 16, 2021 1:00 AM

When it comes to relocating one’s life the determining factors may be circumstantial: a new job, familial proximity or dissatisfaction with the current environment. There are many reasons for moving and statistics show that roughly 10% of Americans move each year. Of this group 85% stayed within their state while an adventurous 15% moved to a new state.

It is no mystery that more and more people are moving to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho every day. In fact, this author is amongst them. Although Idaho did not make the top 10 list of most desirable states which people are moving to, in recent years the influx of out of state residents has increased significantly, especially from California. In fact 60% of all transplants here originate from the Golden State.

So why are Californians relocating from a densely populated, sunny liberal state to a less inhabited weathered conservative one? While this influx has been occurring for the past several years, 2020 has seen an increase in people leaving California.

Cost of living as well as the development of resorts and amenities in Coeur d'Alene has had its impact on the local economy and the appeal of the natural surroundings is positively hi idyllic. The 25 mile long lake makes the city one of the most alluring in the Pacific Northwest. With numerous outdoor activities available throughout the changing seasons from boating and camping to snowmobiling and skiing the area blends small city living with rustic charm. At 2,200 feet above sea level Coeur d'Alene has some of the best air in the country scoring under ten on the Air Quality Index and is also ranked as one of the cleanest cities in the U.S.

All of these attributes make Coeur d'Alene a desirable place to live undoubtedly, but perhaps a more unspoken draw to the “The Heart of Awl” is that it feels untouched by the regulations of the pandemic. New residents and visitors may be shocked by the lack of masks and social distancing despite statewide mandates. It isn’t uncommon to walk into a coffee shop where the baristas and patrons alike are not masked. In fact the whole city is open for business despite the current worldwide situation.

This fact hasn’t turned off the Californians despite liberal roots, in fact many have followed suit enjoying personal freedoms they had not previously in a blue state that is undergoing round 3 of lockdowns amidst other extreme measures to stop the spread. However, despite Idaho’s numbers, there is a sense of value for human rights over regulation-for better or worse.

Though there are positives to an increase in population such as diversity and a stimulated economy, cons to the new swell of residents. There has been a rise in the cost of living, now 6% above the national average in a city that was once hailed as one of the most affordable places to live in America. Locals are also wary of gentrification and culture clash with those seeking to call Coeur d'Alene their new home. In fact home ownership is by far the most compelling reason for out-of-staters to choose our city regardless of the increase in real estate. The median home price is up by 16.9% from last year and doesn’t seem to be slowing down any time soon.

Coeur d'Alene is a special town with its own flavor. The people are kind and welcoming, authentic and approachable. Downtown is walkable and thriving with local businesses and renowned restaurants. However, as it is important to observe house rules when visiting someone else’s home, it is equally necessary that Californians and other transplants respect Coeur d'Alene for those very qualities that attracted them here in the first place.

This looks like not only supporting local businesses and preserving community values but also regulating city developments, intentionally bringing community members into the process. Homestead exemption has proven an effective measure to preserve original homeowners as reported by Jessi Van Tol, CEO of National Community Reinvestment Coalition in his article “Yes, You Can Gentrify Neighborhoods Without Pushing Out Poor People” in The Washington Post:

“There are other ways to help people stay rooted in their communities: provide renters with the opportunity and financing to purchase their units; preserve and expand public housing; protect elderly and long-term residents from property tax increases; enforce building codes and offer easy options for renters to report bad landlords; negotiate payment plans with homeowners who have fallen behind on their property taxes; establish community benefits agreements with investors in large projects to ensure that local residents benefit from the investment; offer developers higher levels of density in return for funding more affordable housing units in their projects; establish a loan fund to help small business owners buy their buildings.”

So, Californians, you are welcome here. Coeur d'Alene is happy to be your refuge in the midst of a global health and economic crisis. All we ask is for in return is your awareness of your impact here and your active involvement to preserve this community you chose to call home for those whose home it has already been.