The Goodman Group, Inc. v. Henry Dishroom, Samuel R. Pierce, Jr.

In 1966, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency (SFRA) designated an area for redevelopment as part of a loan and grant agreement. The agreement was made under the authority of the Housing Act of 1949, 42 U.S.C. § 1441 et seq. (1976). The Goodman Group, Inc., appellant here, represents a group of local artists who occupy the Goodman Building, which is located in San Francisco within the redevelopment area.

At first, the renewal project scheduled the Goodman Building for demolition. In 1975, through efforts by the building’s occupants and other citizens, the building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Demolition plans were cancelled, and the building was slated for interior conversion to low income housing units. In 1978, HUD completed a Special Environmental Clearance for the refurbishing and approved an agreement for remodelling between the SFRA and one Wofsy. HUD determined no Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) was needed for the scheduled work.

Appellant sued in the district court in 1978, asserting various grounds for enjoining rehabilitation of the Goodman Building. Appellant claimed, inter…