Board upholds abatement order for Fillmore Street property after appellant fails to appear

The Abatement Appeals Board voted to uphold the Department of Building Inspection's order of abatement and the assessment of costs for case 6753554 at 554 Fillmore Street after the appellant failed to appear at the hearing.

John Hinton, speaking for the department, summarized the case as a violation for work without a permit and removal of finishes including stained-glass windows and recommended upholding the abatement and imposing costs. Hinton told the Board the appellant has a permit filed that is now in the Planning Department review process.

Commissioners noted that an appellant who later obtains permits may have options to seek further review from planning or other appeals processes; staff said they would investigate whether additional appeals would be available after Planning action. With no public comment from the appellant present, the Board took a roll-call vote and upheld the director's order.

The meeting record indicates the Board treated this as a continued appeal (shortened presentation time) and relied on department documentation in the packet. The Board did not record any modification to the abatement in this case.