Nob Hills famed Fairmont Hotel is planning to turn nearly half its fancy rooms into fancy condos. Who knew Motel 6 cut into their client base so far.

The owners insist none of the public spaces will be lost - no historic ballrooms razed to make way for a 60″ HDTV theater room owned by the last non-bubble-bursted venture capitalist. City officals are all up in the Fairmont’s grill, saying the plan is akin to turning the Eiffel Tower into an office building.

Actually, no, it’s aboslutely nothing like that, but okay.

New York’s Plaza Hotel is undergoing a similar conversion - which makes me weep since I’ve yet to stay there. Not all the rooms are gone, but I’m guessing with less supply comes even higher prices.

The Fairmont owners say they “saw a need for housing” in San Francisco. Yes, if there’s anything I haven’t seen lately, it’s adequate construction of luxury housing. Especially not in SoMa or along the Embarcadero. Never.

There are, of course, shades of other political interests at play here: the conversion would likely result in the loss of union jobs - a nice addition to the 14 month long (and Energizer-bunnying along) standoff between hotels and workers here in SF - including management and labor at the Fairmont.

Supervisor Peskin says that has nothing to do with his concern. No, no, that’d be crazy to think.

Related posts:

1. Another Side Of The Fairmont
2. Fancy Ferry Plaza
3. Say Good-bye to Bike Kitchen
4. Harvest Festival at the Ferry Plaza Marketplace
5. Biking in SoMa