By Kate Callen
Here in San Diego, recent news stories about developer Christian Spicer have revealed that he is facing multiple lawsuits, loan defaults, forced property auctions, and code enforcement sweeps.
But readers of the New York Times aren’t aware of his collapse. From what they’ve been told, Spicer has been and always will be a pioneer in urban housing development.
Times housing reporter Conor Dougherty first wrote approvingly of Spicer in an October 2021 article headlined “Where the Suburbs End.” The story said that Spicer’s approach to stacking up accessory dwelling units (ADUs) on single-family lots was “a vision for California’s future.”
Dougherty described Spicer as “a mellow presence” who is “trying to make money by building new housing instead of by making existing housing more expensive.” In an October 2022 podcast about Spicer, Dougherty noted, “ADUs are just the first crack in ending the domination of single-family homes in California.”
Four years later, Spicer has left a trail of wreckage and financial ruin in residential neighborhoods across San Diego: large unfinished complexes overtaken by squatters; 34 lawsuits, including 22 from construction companies, supply houses, and mechanics’ liens; 54 notices of default; and four properties gone to auction.
Will Times readers learn that this housing visionary has become a pariah? Not anytime soon. Dougherty has ignored multiple pleas from two Rag reporters that he should correct the record with a story about Spicer’s downfall.
Paul Krueger and I have repeatedly emailed Dougherty with evidence of Spicer’s misdeeds methodically compiled by Pamela Begeal at www.adubonus.org. We have reminded him that he has a responsibility to his readers to update them on Spicer. He has not responded.
This isn’t the first time Dougherty’s housing coverage has been challenged by a reporter. He did respond to a 2022 inquiry by Zelda Bronstein of 48Hills.org by dodging her because, he wrote, “our PR people have to clear outside media.”
Bronstein is a journalist who dares to question pro-density orthodoxy. Her January 24, 2022 story, “Are ADUS Affordable Housing?” begins, “The California growth machine rarely breaks ranks.”
The main section of the story, labeled “The New York Times Hype,” focuses on Dougherty’s coverage of Spicer. In it, Bronstein dismantles the reporter’s claims that ADUs lower the price of housing and provide more affordable rental units.
Looking at a Spicer development singled out by Dougherty, Bronstein showed that “the more units allowed on a parcel of land, the more profit that can be squeezed out of that parcel, which means higher real-estate values and housing prices.”
On the issue of affordability, she quotes a study from the UCLA Ziman Center for Real Estate that “the median rent for ADUs with non-related tenants is higher than the median rental price for the whole of Los Angeles.” And because they tend to be small, “ADUs are less affordable than other rental units after taking the number of bedrooms into account.”
Bronstein emailed Dougherty to question his coverage. He replied, “I’m happy to discuss, but if you want to quote me, I have to call our handlers.” He later wrote that Times publicists “are not really comfortable with me being quoted in local media.”
Come again?
The Times has long been criticized for having a liberal bias. But its loyal readers, who include Paul and me, have always believed the paper’s commitment to integrity means it would welcome the scrutiny that is at the core of journalism.
How naïve we were. Bronstein writes that, “As [Dougherty’s] article indicates, The Times is an unwavering growth-machine loyalist.” Which means, in terms of objectivity, it’s on a par with Fox News and the New York Post.
The Times has a famous motto: “All the news that fits.” Apparently, that means all the news that fits if you have the Manhattan mindset that people should live in tiny units in tall concrete towers on streets that are always darkened by shadows.
Hating on the New York Times? lol. Classic Fox News/OB Rag.
That’s pretty classic yourself, accusing someone of hating when you have “fearmongerere” in your email address along with “aduhighrises” — geez!
” its loyal readers, who include Paul and me, have always believed the paper’s commitment to integrity means it would welcome the scrutiny that is at the core of journalism.”
Accuracy is the beating heart of journalism. Correcting mistakes, which starts with recognizing them, is part of every respected news outlets creed – with Fox News as the outstanding (out)liar.
It’s not hating the NYTimes to want them to be accurate.
Thanks, Kate, for keeping the pressure on the NY Times and reporter, Connor Dougherty, to update their story on the Bonus ADU developer who Council Member Sean Elo-Rivera once denounced as a predatory builder.
The Times and Dougherty certainly do owe San Diegans — and all their readers, nationwide — a follow-up to their upbeat October, 2021 feature on the supposedly glowing future of stack-and-pack studio and one-bedroom units on single-family parcels.
Much has changed with regard to real, and very detrimental impacts of the “Bonus ADU” program, and an update on Spicer, his unscrupulous development practices, and the mountain of debt he’s foisted on this investors and his contractors would demonstrate the Times’ (and Dougherty’s) commitment to responsible journalism, if they do in fact adhere to the most basic tenets of ethical reporting.
Thank you! My family and friends have been discussing this and all feel the NYT and Conor owe their readers and the people of San Diego an update. If you recall, because of this article John Oliver chided the residents of Clairemont on national TV. He too needs to know the full
story.
Thanks Kate Callen, Paul Krueger, and Pamela Begeal (researcher extraordinaire) for this reporting and work to get this story more recognition! I have the utmost respect for you all. Why haven’t are our investigative media outlets like inewsource and/or the Times of San Diego picked up on this story? Knowing how many lawsuits and other problems San Diego’s BONUS ADU program has caused, it is hard to understand how so many people thought and still think San Diego’s program was/is a good idea! A few ADUs like state law allows is a good way to increase housing capacity, but not the Bonus ADU program.
This isn’t the first time Conor Dougherty wrote an article and failed to follow-up when reality reared its head several months later. In 2017 Dougherty wrote this article about a big 50′ x 150′ lot in south Berkeley with a dilapidated old house:
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/01/business/economy/single-family-home.html
The lot could have been redeveloped into a modest apartment building with eight to 12 units, similar to one around the corner. That would have served the locals well. But a few years later lot contained three bizarre-looking condo units, selling for more that $1 million each. Again, it was my friend and colleague Zelda Bronstein who broke the news.
A few years ago I got the chance to hear Dougherty speak along with Heather Knight, the NYT reporter who covers San Francisco (her previous job was with SF Chronicle). The quality of the conversation was appalling. Neither of them understood state housing policy. Dougherty came across like a louche, aging skate board punk who couldn’t speak in complete sentences. That explains a lot.
Michael, thank you for writing. To answer Laura’s question, how can we bring this to the attention of national media watchdogs? You and Zelda have done exemplary reporting on media bias that promotes overdensity. Now we’ve got two cities (SF and SD) drawing attention to NYT coverage that is deliberately one-sided. How might we take this further?
Could we write an opinion piece or op-ed and submit it to The New York Times? Or perhaps another major New York newspaper—possibly one of its competitors? I believe the New York Post recently published a piece critical of Mayor Todd Gloria.
The New York Times Guest Essay program specifically welcomes arguments grounded in personal experience or expertise. Pieces are typically 800–1,200 words and must be original and exclusive while under consideration. Has anyone tried this avenue yet?
I also have a personal experience with Dougherty that I’ll share with Paul later.
And Kate, I love this sentence:
“The Times has a famous motto: ‘All the news that fits.’ Apparently, that means all the news that fits—if you have the Manhattan mindset that people should live in tiny units in tall concrete towers on streets perpetually darkened by shadows.”
Well done, everyone!
Im not sure why no one has dug deeper into Spicer and his investors, partners. Kate and Michael you are missing the bigger picture. His partners are alleged flippers, I Buy San Diego, WeRevive Homes, Sundae. Some believe these guys all flip illegally in San Diego, hundreds of homes a year, no permits, unlicensed contractors. Allegedly they prey on the elderly when they offer pricing for cash, and allegedly take advantage of home owners that do not know the laws.
They are alleged to sell houses that are not safe, and supposedly they are very aware of this. They all have the same though process, we will make money on 10, lose on 3, we are still profitable. Its a multi billion dollar a year probably illegal enterprise that no one is looking at, because they all disguise them selves as legit business’s.
They are now the ones suing Spicer, on top of the contractors that were doing work for his construction company. These alleged flippers, GG Homes ( The Greene’s) WeRevive ( Brian Daly) CT Homes, Acropilis, Jim Ritter, Sundae, and countless others continue to do illegal work allegedly in San Diego and Orange County using multiple LLCs to hide their Company. Why does the city allow this to happen? Why does the state allow it to happen? The building department has people working in the department that allegedly take bribes to turn a blind eye when a citizen files a complaint against the flippers for not pulling permits. Yet no one is writing articles about this. Kate, why don’t you write about these other companies?
Jim, remember “I Love Lucy”? Remember Lucy in the candy factory? When she started eating the bonbons because she couldn’t wrap them fast enough? That’s what it’s like for Rag reporters. We can’t keep up with all the malfeasance that happens in this city on a regular basis. So we do our best by reporting what we can.
Pamela Begeal of ADUBONUS.org has compiled a list of lawsuits alleging fraud and nonpayment against Spicer, Hinson and other associates. She has forwarded the information to the District Attorney’s office, but victims need to report real estate fraud themselves (and also to state licensing and SEC).
Hi Jim,
We’re aware of those connections, and Pam Begeal of adubonus.org has done amazing research on this very issue. If you’re not working with her, please reach out through her website. I know she’d very much like any information she might not have.
Thx for your contribution.