Today, San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera announced an investigation into Trinity Place, the 1,900 unit apartment complex still under development at the corner of 8th and Market, for allegedly renting nearly two dozen residential units — including 16 rent-controlled apartments — to tourists.
According to a press release regarding the investigation, the rent-controlled apartments in Trinity Place's 1188 Mission St. tower were "leased to a single individual for the apparent purpose of marketing them as short-term tourist rentals." At the same time, seven other residential apartments in the development's 1190 Mission St. tower were leased to the same person, "with evidence indicating those units were also then rented to tourists for short-term stays."
Investigators also have evidence that the residential units at 1188 Mission St. were marketed as “The SOMA Suites Hotel.” Perhaps the video below, featuring photos highlighted on the Trinity Place website, is part of their arsenal.
The Trinity Place development encompasses four high-rise towers and was approved by the Planning Commission and Mayor Gavin Newsom in 2007 after the developer, Angelo Sangiacomo, spent years battling with the city and housing activists over the development's community benefits.
The 1188 Mission St. tower opened to market-rate and rent-controlled residents in 2010 and the 1190 Mission St. tower moved residents in three years later. The development is expected to be complete by 2020, and the Planning Department is currently reviewing plans for the developer's public art and plaza as part of the project's final phase.
We'll keep you informed as the investigation continues.
