Eventually, the city will tear down the Regis, Cambridge and Salt Lake Blue hotels, between 241 S. and 255 S. State St. But while the city decides what to build in their place - and that could take a couple of years - City Council members decided Thursday night that they should seek more tenants.

Until now, the city had stopped renting out units at the Regis and Cambridge, hoping to empty out the buildings through attrition. The Salt Lake Blue has been vacant because it needs a new roof.

"They are available and livable and frankly a better option than living on the street," said Councilman Eric Jergensen.

Matt Minkevitch, executive director of the homeless shelter The Road Home, said he can now tell homeless residents who are ready to move out of the shelter that cheap rooms - these rent for $80 a week - exist. "We can get people in there."

The city's Redevelopment Agency bought the three single-room-occupancy (SRO) hotels not intending to get into the low-income housing business. The City Council and Mayor Rocky Anderson want to tear them down for an undefined new project. The hotels haven't been maintained and are run-down. They've become an eyesore and embarrassment for the city.

But without a reuse plan, the City Council was loathe to tear them down. "It's incomprehensible as landlords we would evict these people until we have a plan," said Councilwoman Jill Remington Love.

Anderson wanted to stop renting out units. But after the vote, he said he agrees the buildings should continue to be rented out, since he said the City Council will take too long deciding what to do, noting the council has known since at least 2000 the city needed to build more SRO housing but hasn't followed through.

"I get very frustrated in the delay and inaction of the council."

The council now needs to find out how much money it would cost to make Salt Lake Blue habitable.

The city may also make small improvements to the Regis and Cambridge, depending on the cost.

"We have the responsibility as the owner to put the money into them . . . keep them at a standard that is fair for people to live in," said Councilwoman Nancy Saxton.

That standard is debatable. Councilman Carlton Christensen said the rooms aren't livable to him - they are rundown and ceilings are sagging - but noted they are to the tenants.

"I'm very comfortable in there," Regis resident Michael Whiteman told the council. "With a few dollars it can be brought up to par."

Council members delayed for the future a broader discussion of the city's role in SROs. Jergensen said the council supports replacing the State Street hotels unit for unit in the future.

Low-income housing advocates demand it: "To replace the housing is critical, absolutely critical," Claudia O'Grady told the council.

hmay@sltrib.com