[{"_1":2,"_86":-5,"_87":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6630250,"mediaKeyId","2696761-a4e09166bb2cb6362e7bf0448484c86c","parentId",2696761,"title","Board upholds abatement and costs for unpermitted three‑story addition at 820 Laguna Honda Boulevard","audioSeconds",2301,"startMs",1193000,"endMs",3494000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2696761-a4e09166bb2cb6362e7bf0448484c86c&start=1193&end=3494","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2696761-a4e09166bb2cb6362e7bf0448484c86c/thumbnail_1193000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6630250/San-Francisco-City/San-Francisco-County/California/Board-upholds-abatement-and-costs-for-unpermitted-threestory-addition-at-820-Laguna-Honda-Boulevard","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6630250-6c82fa7ed153d2db03a11c2a94454712/orig.mp4?Expires=1775185491&Signature=GctWWY6Pc89P4Ydr~auH4-c2teZB1Yabz~8jumAsA1gKx11-TJ1DaLvI5C3TtGBhWbTvxZ3x89wprp1GNJlvX8CYtx~2sdeSY9FFZ8fbJUqQR3JjSe2cpFw6AVuUv18Ew9jxUa4JY8JU8dIiaTKYRY8it~pu3o5vsiW4M7xZOoo0xolRo1tZSJ6NIlxA~toHbysblGSSLCCJD3d2niv-QEIKWA3yM5mTi26eQWe2Pqe2drfBQKvY4ButXLxyCeZfzaLSqFrq7ZejO8~RA7CxHUwDj-c7XZiPghewAXpNN~YQa1bm~ACbhxFgNxgEk~0tpEV9moZlnv1itVPcmG164A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of San Francisco","date","2025-03-19T00:00:00Z","article","SAN FRANCISCO — The Abatement Appeals Board on March 19 unanimously upheld an order of abatement and assessment of costs for an unpermitted three‑story addition at 820 Laguna Honda Boulevard, rejecting the appellant’s request to vacate or substantially extend compliance deadlines.

DBI code enforcement told the board the complaint (filed Nov. 9, 2021) identified a three‑story unpermitted addition at the rear of the building spanning the full width and approximately 10 feet in depth. DBI’s presentation summarized enforcement steps: notice of violation Jan. 25, 2022; a final warning in 2023; director’s hearings in July and August 2024 with continuances and advising periods; and an order of abatement issued Nov. 8, 2024. Staff reported a site permit application (site permit 20220503449) remained in the final stages of review as of Feb. 21, 2025.

David Pearl, the appellant’s attorney, said the owner, William O’Keefe, submitted a permit less than four months after the initial citation and subsequently faced prolonged discretionary review and delay in city processing. Pearl said the delays have exposed O’Keefe to fines and penalties and that “Mr. O'Keefe has been working for years to try and get this permit approved. He wants nothing more than to be done with it.” Pearl said the owner faces “outstanding fines and penalties in excess of $5,000” and warned DBI’s procedures have stalled progress.

Multiple neighbors and community representatives urged the board to retain the abatement. Tony Hall, a nearby resident, said the additions have blocked sunlight and described balconies and a “spite fence” that he said intruded on neighboring open space. Robert Coleman, who said he has tracked the case “in the public interest,” noted concerns about a former building inspector implicated in permit irregularities and urged continuing enforcement. Former Supervisor Matt Gonzales and representatives of the Greater West Portal Neighborhood Association also urged the board not to vacate the abatement, arguing the additions would not have been approved had standard permitting been followed and that reversing the abatement would undermine enforcement.

DBI staff clarified during rebuttal that the higher $500‑per‑day penalty Pearl referenced applies only if the case is referred to the city attorney for litigation; at this stage DBI was focused on fees assessed for time and materials. Staff also said DBI had provided extended time to comply and had worked through the variance and discretionary review processes the case required.

In deliberations several commissioners said the record showed unpermitted construction and substantial neighborhood impacts. Commissioner Williams moved to uphold the order of abatement and assessment of costs; Commissioner Ming seconded. Roll call votes: Vice President Newman — yes; Commissioner Alexander Toot — yes; Commissioner Ming — yes; Commissioner Williams — yes. The motion carried unanimously.

The board’s decision leaves the Nov. 8, 2024 order and the associated assessments in place while the pending site permit continues through DBI’s approval process.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of San Francisco - Video Open Video Only in Windows Media Player - Mar 19, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Abatement Appeals Board on March 19 unanimously upheld a Nov. 8, 2024 order of abatement and assessment of costs for an unpermitted three‑story addition at 820 Laguna Honda Boulevard after extensive public comment and hearing testimony.","taxTitle","San Francisco City, San Francisco County, California","taxId",5751,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":44,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6630256,"Abatement Appeals Board returns Powell Street soft‑story case to staff for one‑year monitoring",1002,191000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2696761-a4e09166bb2cb6362e7bf0448484c86c&start=191&end=1193","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2696761-a4e09166bb2cb6362e7bf0448484c86c/thumbnail_191000.jpg","/articles/6630256/San-Francisco-City/San-Francisco-County/California/Abatement-Appeals-Board-returns-Powell-Street-softstory-case-to-staff-for-oneyear-monitoring","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6630256-ff40ba4bfa16c3831bfcb05be3e646ef/orig.mp4?Expires=1775185491&Signature=ajMfXcFSHimL6k3ln6Nng33Zt2niksSsi9zUEQYrHgsag3yToFUKKIGuZfu8Gk7acAM8Bg-g2TpTQddBjatnEg6lPk5WEfIgRMmE49-HpWz86T35NjHicUxaatfShmyjUK2bRUVetPVt6wj4flVN063jnefFID3--HCyQAExqhoS~14q6ShZ9fZrCq8~6GAvHvJGdWj-q~YzQvzn3MyA41yh4KiXzHOXtA10r9wQ80AvYrNaYebpNXfmz-62YYN5OkSakOHUMlEDUy9gn2MK9k78aIcWAUKMiYpTubT-tcC1YmpcMvunmjTC4y1E1Ub8t5ULvTwrtr56yWiPmhQwHg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","SAN FRANCISCO — The Abatement Appeals Board on March 19 voted unanimously to return a soft‑story retrofit enforcement case for 4 C 14 6 6 Powell Street to Department of Building Inspection (DBI) staff for monitoring for one year and to return the matter to the board after that period.

The case concerns an order of abatement and assessment of costs issued Oct. 17, 2024, after the property owner had not obtained a certificate of final completion required under the San Francisco Existing Building Code (SFEBC) mandatory soft‑story retrofit program, specifically SFEBC 505(e). Staff had recommended upholding the abatement; the appellant argued the retrofit work is complete and final sign‑off by the Department of Public Works (DPW) is the remaining step.

DBI code enforcement presented the case summary and enforcement timeline, listing an initial notice of violation on Jan. 20, 2023, a final warning May 17, 2023, a director's hearing in August 2024 and the auto abatement issued Oct. 17, 2024. DBI staff told the board the property has an active permit but remains noncompliant because DBI has not issued the certificate of final completion.

Jason Hsu, an attorney appearing remotely for the property owner (Chaquan Hsu), told the board that DBI has inspected and “signed off that the building was seismically retrofitted” and that the remaining hold is DPW’s refusal to sign off because a restaurant tenant installed double‑glazed doors that encroach on the sidewalk. Hsu said the owner has obtained permits, hired contractors and filed a lawsuit against the tenant to permit correction of the encroachment, and asked the board either to vacate the abatement or continue the matter to allow time to resolve the tenant dispute.

DBI’s representative, Mauricio Hernandez, said the department recognizes progress on the retrofit and confirmed the permit remains active but emphasized that “full compliance is only achieved upon obtaining the certificate of final completion.” Hernandez said staff is open to monitoring the case rather than immediate vacatur.

During deliberations commissioners said they saw no immediate life‑safety hazard and noted the owner’s progress. Commissioner Williams moved to return the case to staff for monitoring for one year and for the case to return to the Abatement Appeals Board in one year to report status. Vice President Newman seconded the motion. Roll call votes: Vice President Newman — yes; Commissioner Alexander Toot — yes; Commissioner Ming — yes; Commissioner Williams — yes. The motion carried unanimously.

The board’s action directs staff to monitor compliance and reconvene after one year to review whether the certificate of final completion has been issued and whether the abatement should be enforced or vacated.","The Abatement Appeals Board voted unanimously March 19 to return a soft‑story retrofit enforcement case for 4 C 14 6 6 Powell Street to staff for one year of monitoring while the owner pursues final Department of Public Works sign‑off.","actionData","errors"]

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Board upholds abatement and costs for unpermitted three‑story addition at 820 Laguna Honda Boulevard

Abatement Appeals Board returns Powell Street soft‑story case to staff for one‑year monitoring