THC is the first agency to file lawsuits against hotel owners following the newly strengthened Residential Hotel Unit Conversion and Demolition Ordinance.
Category: Preserving Affordable Housing
THC has led efforts to protect San Francisco SRO Hotels and tenants since our founding in 1980. We spent years trying to strengthen the city’s 1981 Hotel Conversion Ordinance and finally succeeded in 1990. We soon obtained injunctions against over 25 law-breaking hotels.
1990
Hotel Conversion Law Faces Private Legal Test
The owners of the Lotus and Amsterdam Hotels are challenged by THC, alleging illegal use of their designated residential units for tourist rentals.
1990
Ellis Act – Abigail Hotel Court Ruling
Court rules hotels do not have to pay replacement fees by evoking the Ellis Act.
1991
Renegade Hotelier Slaps Housing Lawyer With Suit
Disgruntled Hotel Owner Adam Sparks files suit against Randy Shaw – Falsely claiming abuse of the Residential Hotel Ordinance for personal gain. Randy Shaw says this will make the owner look even more foolish, and that they would be making a motion to throw the case out.
1991
Hotelier Ordered Jailed Wednesday
Hotelier Adam Sparks is sentenced to jail for violating the city’s Residential Hotel Unit Demolition and Conversion Ordinance.
1991
S.F. Hotelier Is Barred From Renting to Tourists
SF Judge issues a permanent injunction barring Hotel Owner Adam Sparks from renting rooms to tourists. A win for hotel conversion and zoning laws – showing they can be enforced.
1992
Residential Hotel Conversion Ordinance Facing Stiff U.S. Court Challenge
The Residential Hotel Conversion Ordinance is under fire for being “unconstitutional” – Tenants rights groups speak upon its importance to preserving affordable housing.
1992
Mayoral Intervention on Conversion of Hotel Approval
The Cornell Hotel wants to convert 31 units from residential to tourist use. The Planning Dept initially recommends disapproval of the request but then flips (after Mayor Frank Jordan intervened) to supporting the conversion. The conversion would mean a loss of over $1,000,000 in funds for non-profit housing.
1993
Hotelier Loses Conversion Bid
In a victory for affordable housing advocates, the SF Board of Supervisors rejected a bid for hotels to carve an exemption from a financial provision in a controversial housing ordinance. Leaving owners responsible to pay a conversion fee.
1993
Nothing Radical About Hotel Law
Randy Shaw addresses the San Francisco Residential Hotel Ordinance and how if it’s deemed “confiscation” residential zoning would be all but abolished.