THE OCEANSIDER: Oceanside Cabins Owner Pauses Plans for New Hotel – For Now

Posted on by Editor
www.tillamookcountypioneer.net
By Jerry Keene, Editor, The Oceansider
With the collapse of the proposal to redevelop the House on the Hill site on Maxwell Point, Oceansiders have asked for an update on Fusion Lodging’s effort to replace Oceanside Cabins with a new hotel. County officials report no further contact since they notified Fusion’s development team in March 2024 that their land use application was deemed incomplete. Fusion’s deadline to complete the application expired in September 2024.

This week, The Oceansider sought an update on the stalled project from Barbara Keckler, Fusion’s Director of Sales and Marketing. Fusion owns a number of lodging enterprises on the Oregon Coast, including the Terimore Motel in Netarts. Keckler advised that Fusion Lodging has been engaged in a “reconsolidation” of its properties that drew attention and resources away from the Oceanside project. This included the sale of several properties, the purchase of a hotel in the Columbia Gorge and the re-opening of the Surfrider Resort in Depoe Bay. Nevertheless, Keckler stated that Oceanside Cabins remains “one of their favorite properties,” and that the company had no intention of selling the property despite their application setback. When pressed, Keckler initially insisted that Fusion is happy with their original, 17-cabin proposal and “really want to do it” while also keeping open the possibility of a new design “or maybe just do cabins.”  Keckler declined to offer any timeline for moving forward. Your friendly editor reminded her that many Oceansiders are closely watching what happens and invited her to keep us up to date.

House on the Hill Owner Heeds Community Requests to Remove the Giant “For Sale” Banner at House on the Hill
For several years, Oceanside’s village backdrop has included an oversized banner informing one and all that the former House on the Hill hotel is “FOR SALE.”  As previously reported, a conditional sales agreement for the property was recently terminated, raising the prospect that the FOR SALE banner would remain for the indefinite future. A number of Oceansiders contacted your friendly editor last week suggesting that a petition be circulated for removal of the sign. The Oceansider relayed these community sentiments to Dusty Trost, the realtor who represents the Pastega family in the marketing of the site. In just one day, Trost offered the following response:
“Thanks for reaching out and sharing the community’s perspective. After discussing it with the Pastegas, we’ve decided that it’s time to give the sign a break and will be taking it down this weekend. We appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding while the property has been on the market, and in the spirit of being good neighbors, we’re happy to make this adjustment.
We are happy to report that at the time of publication, the banner has in fact been removed. Our thanks to the Pastegas and Trost Realty for so readily taking the community’s concerns to heart.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR
February 24           ONA Zoning/Planning Comm. Meetings – 5 p.m.
Oceanside Community Hall and by Zoom
Re: Revisions to Oceanside Zoning Ordinances
for Implementing State Middle Housing Mandate in
Senate Bill 406

February 26            Conscious Dance – 5:30 p.m.
 Rescheduled from February 16!
Oceanside Community Club

March 3                   Oceanside Community Club Potluck – 6 p.m.
Oceanside Community Hall
Guest Speaker: Tillamook Co. Sheriff Josh Brown

And that’s the view from Oceanside!
jerrykeene@oceansidernews.com