The California Apartment Association this year is again sponsoring legislation to put a dent in the state’s ongoing housing shortage.

One of the bills, SB 621 by Sen. Susan Eggman, D-Stockton, would encourage the conversion of vacant hotels and motels into multifamily housing.

Vacant hotels and motels often are located close to where people live and work. Converting the unused buildings would help revitalize economically depressed spaces, generate jobs, unlock commercial corridors, and rejuvenate communities.

The bill would create a streamlined ministerial process for converting hotels and motels into apartment buildings. The process would include objective planning standards and require that a portion of the apartments be affordable.

Having a streamlined ministerial approval process will reduce costs and building times for developers, who would also benefit from existing infrastructure.