San Francisco Sun

Mayor London Breed expressed her excitement as she joined City officials, community leaders, and housing advocates to celebrate the completion of the rehabilitation and re-opening of the Ambassador Hotel and Ritz Hotel in San Francisco's Tenderloin district. The two historic residential hotels, housing over 220 low-income and homeless individuals, have been essential in providing shelter for those in need.

Speaking at the event, Mayor Breed emphasized the importance of providing housing for vulnerable populations, stating, “In order to deliver critically needed housing for our most vulnerable populations, we need to be a City of yes; we can’t do the same things we have been doing for decades.” She thanked Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation (TNDC) and local partners for their efforts in preserving these historic buildings and providing affordable housing for residents and workers.

The Ambassador Hotel, established in 1917, played a significant role during the AIDS crisis by offering shelter to low-income individuals living with AIDS. TNDC, a non-profit developer, acquired the property in 1999 and recently completed a major renovation in 2023, including seismic upgrades and ADA accessible apartments.

Similarly, the Ritz Hotel, built in 1910, underwent a comprehensive rehabilitation in 1993 and recently received a $16 million upgrade to improve seismic resilience and living conditions for its residents, which include adults with mental or physical disabilities.

Katie Lamont, TNDC's Chief Operating Officer and Interim CEO, highlighted the importance of preserving these historic residences, stating, “The completed renovations to the Ritz and Ambassador Hotels will vastly improve the lives of the people living in these buildings, which date back to the early twentieth century. To rehabilitate and preserve classic residences is to preserve neighborhoods.”

District 5 Supervisor Dean Preston commended the renovation efforts, acknowledging the hotels' historical significance in providing essential homes during crises such as the AIDS epidemic. He stated, “We appreciate all the hard work that went into renovating these District 5 buildings for the benefit of low-income San Franciscans for years to come.”

The renovation projects, which began in 2021 and concluded in 2023, were financed through a combination of tax credits, historic tax credits, and loans, with support from the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development and U.S. Bank. The completion of these projects aligns with the City's goal of increasing affordable housing options for lower-income and vulnerable residents.

As part of the City's commitment to affordable housing, Mayor Breed's Housing for All Executive Directive aims to facilitate the construction of 82,000 new homes over eight years, with a focus on preserving existing affordable housing stock to continue serving vulnerable residents. The completion of these renovation projects signals a step forward in ensuring that San Francisco's most vulnerable populations have access to safe and affordable housing options.