Planning Commission denies Mosser Hotel’s request to convert 72 SRO units to tourist rooms; variance for Minna Hotel residential use taken under advisement

The Planning Commission on March 20 denied a conditional use authorization that would have allowed the Mosser Hotel (54 Fourth Street) to convert 72 of its residential hotel rooms to tourist hotel rooms and tied that conversion to re‑use of 72 rooms at 509 Minna Street as residential hotel rooms. The commission vote to deny the Mosser Hotel conditional use authorization was 5–2.

Planning staff had recommended approval of both parts of the proposal—allowing the Palace‑area Mosser to operate as a larger tourist hotel while recognizing continued residential or group‑housing operations at 509 Minna Street—on the grounds that the swap would enable continued supportive housing operations at Minna and activate otherwise unused units at the Mosser’s downtown location. Vincent Page, Planning Department staff, summarized the proposal and the department’s finding that the application met General Plan and Administrative Code standards as presented in the staff report.

The hearing produced extensive public comment. Tenant advocates, neighborhood groups and tenants said the Mosser had kept rooms off the market…