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Council sends tenant-protection and condo conversion ordinance to committee after multi-year effort
Summary
A proposed ordinance tightening requirements for condominium conversions — including right of first refusal and relocation assistance — was referred to the Committee on Ordinances, Licenses and Legal Affairs, co‑posted with the Committee of the Whole; councilors stressed this will not ban conversions but will add tenant protections.
The Salem City Council voted to refer a proposed ordinance imposing additional regulations on condominium conversions and establishing tenant protections to the Committee on Ordinances, Licenses and Legal Affairs, co‑posted with the Committee of the Whole.
Councilor Hathworth moved the referral. Supporters described the ordinance as the product of several years of work and said it would guarantee tenants additional rights — including a right of first refusal to purchase units, relocation assistance and stronger notice requirements — while stopping short of making conversions impossible.
"This is not saying that condo conversions can never happen," Councilor Hathworth said. "They are happening very, very fast and the incentives are all stacked toward them continuing to happen, due to our housing crisis." Councilor Cohen and others said the measure responds to displacement experienced by hundreds of Salem families and cited the need to give tenants more time and options.
Councilor Morcillo, a member of prior Affordable Housing Trust work on the issue, said the ordinance "gives some breathing room and some protections for those tenants when the owner knows they're going to be turning it into condos." Several councilors urged robust outreach to tenants about the rights and remedies the ordinance would create if adopted.
The motion to refer the ordinance to committee passed. The sponsor and multiple councilors urged that committee consideration include public testimony, policy refinement and consultation with city staff before a final council vote.
