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DBI finds extensive unpermitted demolition at 655 Alvarado; commissioners send case back to Planning, push for neighbor repairs
Summary
DBI staff told the Building Inspection Commission that demolition at 655 Alvarado far exceeded approved permits, leaving adjacent homes with foundation damage and six active notices of violation; commissioners asked staff to present the sequence of events to Planning and prioritized neighbor safety before any new permits.
The San Francisco Department of Building Inspection told the Building Inspection Commission on Aug. 15 that work at 655 Alvarado Street exceeded the scope of approved permits and triggered six active notices of violation affecting three properties.
"To date no building permits have been filed with DBI to comply with the 6 NOVs," Chief Building Inspector Patrick O'Riordan said, summarizing active enforcement steps and next steps for the project. DBI's presentation showed that the existing building had about 3,192 square feet of wall; the original site permit approved roughly 30% of wall removal (about 957 sq ft), a later structural addendum indicated about 44% removal (≈1,417 sq ft), and field inspections found about 88% of walls removed (≈2,803 sq ft).
The project sponsor's architect, Zach Madry, said the general contractor removed elements after discovering dry rot and fire damage and that the contractor acted without securing separate permits for some of that work. "This was an administrative error on their part," Madry said, adding that the contractor (Thompson Brooks Incorporated) is now defunct and the owners have worked to comply with planning requirements.
Neighbor testimony described damage. "We were at home when it happened, but we were just not at home when they did the excavation beneath our house foundation. ... We start seeing cracks all around the house," said Myra Tai, owner of 661 Alvarado Street. Another neighbor, Mary Ferretti Breidinger of 651 Alvarado, said she signed an agreement with a foundation contractor to repair her foundation on Aug. 10.
Commissioners and staff discussed where responsibility lies among contractors, engineers and design professionals, and whether DBI and Planning need stronger coordination and earlier start-of-work inspections to catch inconsistencies before field work begins. Several commissioners urged holding design professionals accountable when drawings and permit descriptions do not match the work performed.
The commission directed DBI staff to present the department's sequence-of-events analysis to the Planning Department, to recommend a formal accounting of responsibility for professionals involved, and to press for stabilization and repairs for affected neighbors before permitting proceeds. The department also noted complaint numbers tied to the case (complaint numbers 201867671 and 201864321) and said six notices of violation were issued between August 2017 and June 2018.
Next procedural steps: DBI will present its findings and recommendations to Planning and continue weekly site monitoring and start-of-work inspections when permits are reactivated. The commission emphasized that permits should not be issued until neighbor foundation and underpinning issues are resolved and documented.
