Ben Franklin revamp stalls

The Ben Frank is back. Or is it?

A year ago, the owners of the Benjamin Franklin Hotel in downtown San Mateo touted the return of the historic hotel, passed out fliers at community gatherings and hung banners in the ground floor windows of the prominent building.

Now construction crews are gone, the interior looks half done and owners are not returning phone calls.

"With the current financial market, it raises questions,” said Bob Beyer, community development director for the city of San Mateo.

San Francisco-based CitiSuites purchased the building in early 2007. It gutted the interior of the building and put up scaffolding earlier this year. However, the city recently ask CitiSuites to remove the scaffolding because it didn’t want the unsightly — and seemingly unused — platforms in place during the holiday season, Beyer said.

"We haven’t heard a thing from them. They aren’t returning our phone calls,” Beyer said.

A construction manager reached for comment referred questions to company president Taylor Lembi, who did not return an e-mail for comment.

CitiSuites manages 13 short- and long-term apartments, including the Ben Franklin. It announced last month the addition of five properties, including The Maurice on El Camino Real in Burlingame.

Lembi, is the grandson of Frank Lembi, one of San Francisco prominent property owners and head of CitiApartments. Real estate experts questioned the company’s risky way of financing property purchases, according to a 2005 San Francisco Chronicle real estate column.

San Mateo officials are hoping the market has not taken a toll on CitiSuites. Reopening the 99-room hotel would generate precious Transit Occupancy Tax for the city to use on improvements to police and fire facilities. It would also bring money for restaurants and shops.

The hotel was built in 1927 and hasn’t been used as a hotel for many years. In its most recent past, it was rented out by United Airlines to house its out-of-town flight attendants and pilots. That lease agreement was broken when United Airlines filed for bankruptcy several years ago. Since then, the 10-story San Mateo landmark has stood vacant except for a restaurant on its ground floor.

Dana Yates can be reached by e-mail: dana@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 106.