Volunteer survey maps soft‑story buildings; DBI says data will shape retrofit program options

Ray Louie told the commission that on a recent Saturday more than 150 volunteers from organizations including the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute and the Structural Engineers Association of Northern California walked large sections of the city to inventory potential soft‑story wood‑frame residential buildings. "We had over 150 people walked, about a third of the geographic area in San Francisco, extending from the northern part of Marina/North Beach all the way down south in the middle section of San Francisco down to, the Mission," Louie said.

Based on preliminary counts, Louie estimated the volunteers surveyed roughly 75% of potential soft‑story buildings in the target areas and that quality‑control work and interns are compiling the detailed findings. Commissioners and staff said the resulting inventory will inform program design — whether DBI pursues grants, subsidies or loan programs — and that additional cross‑checking with housing‑inspection records and mapping (by Vernon Takasuga) will continue. Louie said the team will next filter results to identify buildings built before 1973 and those that have been retrofitted.

Volunteer commenters described the survey logistics: teams of two worked roughly 9 a.m. to just after 2 p.m., used preprinted address lists, and estimated about 80% coverage of assigned blocks. Volunteers and commissioners identified commercial corner storefronts and garage‑front buildings as priorities for retrofit attention.

DBI said the survey data will be the foundation for program options and that staff will report back as the counts and cross‑checks are completed over the coming weeks. The commission thanked the volunteer organizations and acknowledged interest from professional groups (AIA, university engineering students) for follow‑on collaboration.