Oakland Condo Conversion Ordinance Delayed

by Nick Rahaim, Beyond Chron (reposted)

Thu, Dec 7, 2006 8:09AM

Many Oaklanders feel the city is on the cusp of a new era. Moving from one with an unofficial mantra of “all development is good development” to another where the materialization of a “model city” recognizes that not all development is smart development. It seems a few city council members understood this and in a last-ditch effort tried to ram through a condo conversion ordinance—to no avail—that was reminiscent of the nearly by-gone era of ad hoc and fragmented development policy.

Early Wednesday morning Oakland City Councilmember Desley Brooks made a proposal to rescind the controversial condo conversion ordinance she co-authored with City Council President Ignacio de la Fuente. The ordinance—conspicuously titled the Affordable Homeownership Initiative—drew nearly 100 activists, organizers, and community members to the city hall in protest what housing activist James Vann of the Oakland Tenants Union described as “a recipe for mass eviction.” Mayor-elect Ron Dellums opposed the proposal, and lobbied many councilmembers against it.

Through consensus the council decided to refer the ordinance to a special “blue-ribbon” committee they had established on October 17 to develop recommendations for an inclusionary zoning ordinance. Vann said of the council’s decision, “It’s the best action we could have hoped for tonight. There will now be time for much needed rational discussion.”

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http://www.beyondchron.org/news/index.php?itemid=3989#more

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