Mel Murphy, the embattled San Francisco Port Commission member and veteran developer whose home famously collapsed in 2013 and led to a civil lawsuit, has resigned from his post.
Port of San Francisco spokeswoman Renee Dunn Martin confirmed that Murphy resigned Friday.
Murphy’s resignation comes less than two weeks after new allegations surfaced that he had illegally converted another San Francisco property he owns, at 1025 Hampshire St. At that site, Murphy allegedly filed applications with The City to transform it into a two-unit development while he was actually altering the project to include three homes, violating zoning district rules.
Such claims were added to a lawsuit filed in San Francisco Superior Court in April by the City Attorney’s Office over purported building violations in connection with a number of Murphy’s properties, including 125 Crown Terrace, which partially collapsed in December 2013.
A day after the lawsuit was filed, Mayor Ed Lee sent a letter to Murphy formally asking him to resign from the Port Commission.
Matt Dorsey, a spokesman for the City Attorney’s Office, said Murphy’s resignation will not alter the lawsuit.
“It’s good news for the Port Commission and The City, but Mel Murphy’s resignation has no effect on the city attorney’s lawsuit,” Dorsey said. “Mr. Murphy was engaged in an egregious pattern of lawlessness and deception as a developer and city official. His resignation doesn’t remedy his wrongdoing.”
Mel Murphy has been a San Francisco Port Commission member since 2013 after previously serving on the Building Inspection Commission.
Murphy’s attorney did not immediately return a call for comment.City Attorney’s Officedevelopmenthouse collapseMel MurphyPlanningPort CommissionPort of San Francisco
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