Board upholds abatement for 780 Post Street, gives owner 18 months to pursue elevator modernization

The Abatement Appeals Board voted unanimously to uphold an order of abatement for persistent elevator safety problems at 780 Post Street but held the order in abeyance for up to 18 months to allow the property owner time to research and obtain permits to modernize the elevator.

Senior housing inspector James Sempomatsu presented the building’s history and told the board the elevator problem is chronic, with multiple cases over roughly 12 years. He emphasized safety and urged that modernization is a viable solution: "Modernization does not involve displacing people," he said, and encouraged the owner to provide modernization estimates and a plan to protect residents during work.

Tenderloin Housing Clinic outreach manager Rosa Maria Cavallo told the board tenant outreach found residents—including elderly and mobility-impaired tenants—are worried about jostling, gaps, and leveling problems. Cavallo said she was told tenants were asked to withdraw complaints; "I sent a communication... to please cease and desist from asking tenants to withdraw complaints," she said. Elevator technician Robert Cotton disputed claims of coercion, saying he attended the tenant meeting and "nobody was coercing anybody at that meeting." The transcript contains multiple spellings of the owner’s name; the owner and representatives characterized tenant consultations as deliberative and said tenants voted in favor of mitigation steps rather than an immediate replacement.

Technical witnesses and the architect described a spectrum of options. The panel discussed modernization vs. full replacement: staff and elevator experts said modernization can address most components (staff quantified roughly 15–20 components, with only about five requiring full replacement) and typically does not require tenant displacement, while full replacement can trigger larger structural work and far higher costs. Cost estimates presented ranged from about $400,000–$500,000 for modernization components up to $1 million-plus for a full replacement, excluding engineering and related expenses; owner representatives warned monthly pass-through costs could be in the low hundreds per tenant under some financing scenarios.

Commissioners and staff discussed short- and long-term strategies, tenant notification and protections, and code and state-permit constraints (Cal OSHA for elevator permits). Board members asked the department to continue engagement with tenants and recommended quarterly meetings between the owner and tenant representatives (the board can urge but not require those meetings). Commissioner Lee moved to uphold the order of abatement, assess costs, and hold enforcement in abeyance for up to 18 months to allow the owner time to pursue modernization permits; the motion carried unanimously on roll call.

Next steps: the owner will pursue permit and modernization planning with city departments; the department will continue monitoring and the board encouraged periodic tenant-owner updates during the abeyance period.