Civic Center Hotel Resolution Goes Before Board

Preserving the hotel in this way would protect the tenants who live there in terms of their personal safety but would also allow them continued access to affordable housing. The resolution, sponsored by Supervisor Chris Daly, seeks to protect the over 100 tenants who live in the Civic Center Hotel, including disabled persons, students, families and low-income workers.

In 2003, the Pension Trust Fund had attempted to apply to demolish the building, although this application was never completed. The City Attorney’s Office has since filed a lawsuit against the building’s owners requiring that the building be brought up to code. A legislative aide from Supervisor Daly’s office stated “they are basically allowing the building to deteriorate which is unlawful.”

The hotel is currently unequipped with wall sprinklers in the case of fire and it is not earthquake safe. The members of the Pension Trust Fund have not made any definitive steps towards upgrading the building and as recounted by many tenants at the hearing, they have not made themselves available to discuss the matter either.

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