Greetings:
Last Fall, many of you contacted me and voiced concerns about legislation
put forward by Supervisor Chris Daly that would have made all two-unit TICs
subject to the condominium conversion lottery.
With your support, the legislation was amended and we were able to keep
most two-unit TICs out of the lottery process.
At that time, many of you also expressed a great deal of frustration with
the condominium conversion process in general.
You told me stories of spending years in the lottery system – waiting for a
winning number. Often these stories involved situation where the buildings
were 100% owner-occupied and no non-owning tenants were involved. You asked
what could be done to streamline the condominium conversion process and to
proactively increase homeownership opportunities in the city.
Well, I heard you loud and clear and on Tuesday I introduced legislation
that will establish a one-time grandfathering provision from the
condominium lottery for certain buildings that are eligible to participate
in the 2005 condominium conversion lottery.
Here is how it will work: If a 2-6 unit building was owned as a
tenancy-in-common on January 20, 2005 and was 100% owner-occupied on
January 20, 2005, then the owner(s) can convert without going through the
lottery process.
January 20, 2005 is the date selected because it was the last day to
register for the 2005 condominium conversion lottery. This ordinance will
require the owner(s) of such buildings to submit a complete subdivision
application on or before the final date of registration for the 2006
condominium conversion lottery in order to convert without going through
the lottery process.
Because the building must be 100% owner occupied as of January 25, 2005,
conversion of these buildings will not result in the direct displacement of
a single tenant.
I believe this legislation is an important first step in improving home
ownership opportunities for all San Franciscans, but in order for this
measure to pass, I need your help.
In the coming weeks this ordinance will be heard before the Land Use
Committee. It is essential that you come and tell your story to the members
of the committee. Unless you drop me line and ask me not to contact you,
I’ll send you another email when the hearing date and time is set.
As always, please feel free to call my office at 554-7752 with any
questions. I look forward to working with you all again.
Best regards,
Michela Alioto-Pier
Supervisor, City and County of San Francisco