No more TIC evictions!/ TIC Picket Sun in S.F. near The Lex

Yesterday, the Board of Supervisors denied a condo conversion at 400
Vallejo Street, based on Section 1386 of the Subdivision Code. This is
the first time that this long-ignored section (prohibiting conversions
where there have been evictions) has been utilized. The decision is
very far-reaching, effectively eliminating using Ellis or other means
to evict tenants and then create TICs which will then seek to convert
to condos. If evictions are used to create the TIC, then that building
will have to remain a TIC forever; it is unlikely there will be much of
a market for TICs which can not be converted to condos. The number of
units in the pipeline which will be affected is quite large—over 60% of
the 2005 condo lottery winners had evictions.

On top of being denied their condo conversion, the evictors at 400
Vallejo may also face criminal charges because they falsified their
application to DPW, claiming that there were no evictions.

It’s anticipated that due to yesterday’s decision, DPW (which
administers the condo conversion law) will start systematically cross-
checking with the Rent Board for eviction data and rejecting those
buildings with evictions. But we need to continue to pressure for
enforcement of Section 1396 and challenge each and every condo where
there’s been an eviction until we know that DPW is adequately enforcing
the law. (Note: This pressure is REALLY needed--three years when I
called DPW to let them know about a case of outrageous fraud, where the
owner lied about living in the unit really occupied by three women for
six years, DPW's only response was, "It's been mapped, there's nothing
we can do." Which turned out not to be exactly true once I hooked the
to-be-ousted women with a good attorney, but that's another story--
Mara)

And as part of that campaign:
TIC OPEN HOUSE PICKET. SUN, MAY 22, 2 PM, 273 LEXINGTON /20th (near
The Lexington).
This is an open house at a building which was Ellised and the units are
being sold as TIC units. We will leaflet the buyers and let them know
that they can never turn their TIC into a condominium.

For more information, contact:
info [at] sftu.org