Lois's first blog about CitiApartmentsbegins halfway through her post. She begins,
"We have a new landlord up on Nob Hill. Maybe you know the name Lembi; maybe you have heard of CitiApartments. They own a lot of rental property around the City, most of it not in the best neighborhoods. They have code violations all over the City and a relaxed attitude about them. "Don't tell us what to do," seems to be their motto. If they were surfers their attitude might be admirable. As it is, however, their violations affect a lot of people."
Here second blog, also beginning halfway through her post, at CitiApartments & Real Crime, discusses reductions in services and the move to corporate suites.
"Now would someone please explain to me why the City has not shut down CitiApartments, aka Skyline Reality, aka DE LLC, aka CitiSuites ...? The first year after they bought Nob Hill Tower, they dramatically lowered services, which is the reason most people live here. They shut down the office that formerly was run by three full-time workers including the honest owner. They fired the janitor, and reduced the maintenance guy to part time. In short, they let the building run down...
"There was a grand scheme to turn the building into "corporate housing", which is a relatively new real estate gimmick to get around the law and rent out properties that are zoned "residential" as temporary housing. There is nothing especially "corporate" about this. Some marketing guru apparently thought it was a good word. "Tourist housing" would be more accurate. Now the reason for all this maneuvering is this: As temporary housing you can double or triple the rate. You essentially turn the building into a hotel. In their ads, they even brag about not having to pay hotel tax."
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