PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The saga of a Zombie RV whose dwellers tried to build a tiny home around it right on a city street continued Monday, 3 days after the City of Portland put a tow-notice on it.
On Friday, the 72-hour tow notice was placed on the RV. But the dwellers — Jordan Jeffrey Bilyeu and Michael Dean Patterson — arranged to have it towed by volunteers to another spot on private property not far from its current location at NE 55th and Alberta.
Staff in Mayor Ted Wheeler’s office told KOIN 6 News it’s difficult to move the trailer when people are living inside.
Bilyeu — who was arrested last week and then released on charges from an outstanding warrant — told KOIN 6 News they were moving to private property.
“This is the first time we’ve ever had a neighbor complaint,” he said. “We’ve had overwhelming positive response.”
Homeowner Leah Clause was glad it’s been moved, but said this really doesn’t solve the problem.
“Well, it’s 2 blocks away,” Clause said Monday afternoon. “It’s wonderful for it not to be looking in my backyard, but what about my neighbors? What about my neighbors that have children and families?”
Late Monday afternoon, Patterson was arrested by Portland police on a warrant out of Idaho for possession of meth and grand theft auto.
Bilyeu, who was not aware of Patterson’s arrest until KOIN 6 News told him, said neighbors should feel safe.
Neighbors have mixed feelings about the RV’s new location.
The RV is now parked across the street from the home of Jeffrey Seymore who said, “Nobody wants to see something like that in front of their house, but on the other side, where are they going to go?”
However, Barbara Macon, another neighbor, is worried about the potential mess they could leave behind.
She said, “Are they going to eventually leave this place and leave behind a pile of trash?”