Abatement Appeals Board upholds abatement for 921 Central Ave., holds enforcement 60 days

On March 18, 2015 the San Francisco City Abatement Appeals Board voted to uphold a hearing officer’s order of abatement for 921 Central Avenue but to hold enforcement in abeyance for 60 days to allow the property owner time to pursue permits and coordination with the Mayor’s Office of Housing.

The decision followed a department presentation that the case has been continued multiple times and an email from the Mayor’s Office of Housing stating it cannot proceed without the required signature from another person on title. Rosemary Boskey, Chief Housing Inspector, told the board the Mayor’s Office has been trying to assist but needs that additional signature before it can act.

The property owner, identified in the record as Mrs. Loeb, told the board she would not share certain private information on the public record and said the abatement has made it harder for her to obtain insurance and complete transactions. "I don't even want to give my name," she said on the record, adding she has no lawyer and is attempting to resolve the matter by certified letters and through the Mayor's Office of Housing.

Commissioners said they had given multiple continuances and expressed concern the case had been deferred repeatedly without substantive progress. A commissioner moved to uphold the hearing officer's order but hold enforcement for 60 days to allow the owner to secure permits and to work with code-enforcement staff and the Mayor’s Office. The motion was seconded and approved by roll-call vote; all voting members answered "Yes." The board noted that upholding the order does not prevent the owner from continuing to seek assistance from the Mayor’s Office after the order issues.

The board's action upholds the abatement order while giving the owner a defined window to act; enforcement and any subsequent follow-up will be scheduled if required after the 60-day period.