Agency Faces Lawsuits Over Affordable Housing Program

"In the first of what is expected to be a wave of litigation against the California Coastal Commission, lawsuits were filed Monday by 11 Dana Point condominium owners who have been accused by the agency of abusing a low-income housing program." This comes in response to cease and desist orders issued by the Coastal Commission accusing several condominium owners of renting their units to tenants at market rates "in violation of their purchase agreements, and accusing others of improperly selling them at full-market prices....Under purchase terms, qualified buyers agreed to personally occupy the condos for at least 20 years, unless given permission to do otherwise by the Coastal Commission or the program's administrator." Attorneys of the property owners say that with the expiration of the 20 year period, they should no longer be required to rent or sell the condominiums at below-market value. Furthermore, they add, "when they tried to get permission to sell or rent their condos, officials did not respond or assist them."

Thanks to Connie Chung