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DBI details demolition order, safety concerns at long‑running Mission Street fire site
Summary
DBI said it issued emergency orders and partial demolitions after a January 2015 fire at 2598 Mission/20 Second St.; staff described repeated owner non‑response, asbestos abatement, and steps to secure the property while acknowledging limits imposed by insurance and owner cooperation.
Deputy Director Dan Lawrie told the Building Inspection Commission that the department has pursued a sequence of enforcement steps since a January 2015 fire at 2598 Mission/20 Second Street. DBI issued notices of violation and moved the case through the code‑enforcement process; after engineers concluded the building posed a public‑safety hazard, staff signed an emergency partial‑demolition order on Feb. 19, 2015.
Lawrie said DBI and the City Attorney’s office coordinated to gain access to the site after the owner repeatedly failed to respond to notices. Inspectors and an independent structural engineer observed extensive roof destruction and water damage from firefighting efforts. He said partial demolition and asbestos abatement began after the owner engaged a contractor and that DBI is supervising the work. Notices of violation were also issued to an adjacent property after a recent weekend fire.
Commissioners and community representatives asked whether the owner has a rebuilding plan and how soon displaced residents will be able to return. Lawrie said timelines depend on insurance, hazardous materials abatement and owner cooperation; he described a past case where water damage delayed repairs by almost a year. City staff said they are drafting language for notices of violation that would require owners to file an initial action plan (who the structural engineer is, who is displaced, anticipated scope) and to provide periodic updates so tenants and DBI know the owner’s intentions.
Multiple advocates from tenant groups asked the commission to consider stronger legislative tools to compel uncooperative landlords to act more quickly, including earlier City Attorney involvement and emergency powers. Commissioner comments emphasized transparency to the neighborhood and improved interagency coordination. DBI said it will continue to pursue abatement, monitor the contractor’s demolition schedule and seek legal remedies where appropriate.
