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Board grants one-month continuance in Auburn Hotel abatement case; department had sought order of abatement
Summary
The Abatement Appeals Board continued the case of 481 Minnis Street (Auburn Hotel) to the board’s next meeting on May 15 after housing staff urged an order of abatement for repeated violations; the board requested inspectors verify tenant relocations and progress before the next hearing.
The Abatement Appeals Board on April 17 granted a one-month continuance in the appeal of Case No. 6775481 (481 Minnis Street, the Auburn Hotel), asking department inspectors to recheck occupied rooms and requiring the parties to return with an update at the board’s next regular meeting on May 15.
Housing staff, represented by Rosemarie Boskey, urged the board not to grant more time and recommended an order of abatement and referral to the City Attorney because the property has a history of recurring violations and renovations that have not addressed living conditions. Boskey said the department found lead/asbestos containment problems early in the work and that many rooms remained unfinished: "We feel very strongly that this request should not be given," she told the board.
Appellant representatives said a comprehensive remodel is underway. Attorney Rich Stratton said the owners have spent over $200,000 of a roughly $600,000 project and described a four-phase plan. Contractor Larry Wong said the project is about 30% complete overall and estimated it could take about a year to finish if work proceeds at current pace, but he told the board the team expects to finish and move tenants into roughly 30 nearly finished rooms within about two months. "Rather than repairing these items ... you should replace them. That will guarantee it for at least 20 years," Wong said of fixture replacements.
Commissioners split over the appropriate response. Some members cited the scale of permits and money spent and favored giving additional time; others worried that tenants' needs must be prioritized and pressed the department for more recent inspections. The board approved a motion to continue the case to its next regular meeting (May 15) by a 4–2 roll call vote, and directed staff to inspect the 24 occupied rooms and report back.
The continuance does not resolve whether an order of abatement will be issued; the board expressly left the matter for follow-up based on inspections and evidence of tenant protections and completed work.
