Will the condo conversion ordinance disappear?

Will the condo conversion ordinance disappear?
By George P. Hassett

The public hearing for a controversial piece of legislation designed to strengthen tenants rights was cancelled this week. A meeting had been scheduled for Oct. 10 at 7:00 p.m. for public input on possible changes to Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone’s proposed  condominium conversion ordinance.

   “The administration asked me to place it on file,” said Ward 3 Alderman Thomas F. Taylor, chair of the Legislative Matters Committee. “Basically, that means we’re not going to do anything with it.”
   City spokesperson Thomas P. Champion said the administration had received “dozens upon dozens” of e-mails and written responses offering input on the proposed legislation. A group of people within the city and beyond will now be appointed to a group that will draft new legislation, he said.
   The original legislation prompted widespread outcry and criticism from property owners. The Small Property Owners Association distributed a mailing which labeled Curtatone’s proposal “back door rent control.”
   Curtatone’s ordinance would have increased the notification times -- to up to four years -- that landlords would be required to provide before converting their multifamily buildings into condos and selling off the units. Somerville's current rules for conversion require landlords to give tenants one year's notice of a conversion. The elderly, handicapped, and low income residents have two years.
   Under current law, landlords pay $300 in relocation reimbursement to low-income tenants.  Curtatone’s provision would require paying $2,000 or one month's rent to tenants, and $4,000 or two months rent to the elderly, handicapped, and those with low incomes. He said the ordinance would add predictability to condo conversions, while protecting the rights of tenants.
  Between July 2004 and June 2005, 578 condominium units were created in the city, a 70 percent increase over the prior fiscal year. Current conversions are expected to meet or exceed last year's pace. The conversions have been a needed boost to Somerville’s economy, which relies mainly on residents to fund municipal services because of the lack of a significant commercial tax base. But critics say conversions force out long time residents, taking away from the city’s unique character.
  “Everyone I know has moved,” said Mark McLaughlin a lifelong Somerville resident at the first public hearing on the issue. “We’re losing our blue-collar, tight-knit community atmosphere. I don’t know my neighbors anymore, all my friends have moved to cities like Everett and Brockton. Somerville has become so much nicer in the last few years, I think they should be able to experience it too.”
   At a Legislative Matters meeting May 30, called to discuss Curtatone’s proposed ordinance, landlords packed City Hall to cheer aldermen who questioned the proposal’s legality and shout down city lawyers defending it.
   Since then, some have advised Curtatone to let the ordinance fade away but Champion said that is not going to happen.
   “[Putting the ordinance on file] is not a way to make this issue go away,” he said. “There is no question this is a priority to many people in this city on both sides of the issue and we plan to handle it in an appropriate way.”
   Champion said the committee charged with reworking the ordinance has not yet been assembled and there are no set deadlines for when the ordinance will return.

Comments

[Dr. Mrs. McCarthy]

Dear Reader,

Yes.

Dr. Mrs. McCarthy

[Guess Why?]

Hey McLaughlin. The reason the city has gotten so much nicer is because people like your friends have moved to Everett and Brockton. Its called gentrification and I love it. Out with the old and in with the new$$$$.

[Guess who?]

With neighbors like you, who needs enemies? Go back to Cambridge.

[a small landlord]

the current city leaders are pricing the small landlords out. IF you want to retain rental housing in the city I suggest the following issues be made FAIR: no more residential exemption on property taxes; elimination of block rate water billing and have one set rate for entire city; free legal aid to landlords too; elimination of depreciation for improvements; elimination of income taxes for rents after expenses. Clearly ALL costs are passed along. The rents and housing prices are what they are due to uneducated leadership within ALL branches of government (ever notice how no politician owns rental housing for low or moderage income people?).

if any city wants to know why housing prices are what they are the city should get off its duff and start asking small landlords about operating costs.

Once a landlord decides to retire we need all we can get for the multi. We have done our time with a 30 year mortgage. Its more than a part time job. We get nailed with capital gains taxes NOT like single fam owners. If the city really wants to keep buildings as rentals then the city should start actually working with landlords instead of against us. We aren't hiding.

FWIW - the condo iz ation of multis is creating home ownership. Nothing wrong with that.

[Hey Guess why, guess what]

Hey guess why, guess what? You moved here, asshole. You don't like Somerville kids move to the rest of the world where we are not, otherwise shut the fuck up. People like you are the reason yuppies are a problem, you think the world is all yours, one gigantic oyster and its ripe for the shucking. If you don't like me, move somplace I'm not, like not Somerville. Go Back to Cambridge, Dick!