Tenants & Owners in Opposition to Redevelopment v. United States Department of Housing & Urban Development

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER RE COUNSEL FEES

Early in 1970, plaintiffs, low income residents of a run-down area in San Francisco, were faced with imminent displacement from their homes for construction of a multi-million dollar hotel and convention complex known as the Yerba Buena Center Redevelopment Project. Relying upon applicable federal statutes, plaintiffs filed suit here to enjoin defendant San Francisco Redevelopment Agency from relocating residents of the area and to enjoin defendant Department of Housing and Urban Development from allocating additional federal funds to the project.

On April 29, 1970, an injunction was granted by this Court on the grounds *1062 that the relocation plan approved by the Department of Housing and Urban Development failed to meet the requirements of the National Housing Act of 1949 as amended 42 U.S.C. § 1441 et seq. Specifically, the Court determined that there was no evidence to show that the relocation dwellings would meet the legal requirements that they be “decent, safe and sanitary” and “within the financial means” of those displaced. In October, 1970, the relevant parties agreed in writing that rio person would be displaced unless and until…