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.
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MAYORAL INTERVENTION CAUSES PLANNING DEPARTMENT FLIP-FLOP ON HOTEL CONVERSION
Property Owner To Get Million Dollar Gift In Efforts To Destroy Affordable Housing
Mayor Frank Jordan has intervened in a Planning Commission vote on the Cornell Hotel, causing the Planning Department to reverse its position on the case. Jordan’s involvement has paved the way for an unprecedented gift of public funds to a politically connected hotel owner.
After the January 27 hearing, the Planning Department recommended disapproval of the Cornell Hotel’s conditional use application to convert 31 residential units to tourist use. At its meeting of February 24, Planning Commissioners received a letter from Jordan urging support for the Cornell.
The Department has now switched its position and is recommending that the Cornell’s application be approved. Whereas the original report stated it would cost at least $30,000 per unit to replace the lost residential units, the Department now recommends conversion at an historic low cost of $5,500/unit.
Commission approval of the new Department recommendation will mean a loss of over $1,000,000 in funds for non-profit housing. Amazingly, the Director of the Mayor’s Office of Housing and the husband of the Mayor’s Homeless Coordinator are lobbying to reduce funding for programs they administer.
STOP THE GIVEAWAY!
2:00 Today — City Hall, Room 282
