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Board continues 40/50 Alta Street appeals, orders owner to supply full scope and schedule by June
Summary
Commissioners continued the contested 50 Alta Street Unit 5 appeal to June 19 and ordered the permit holder to submit a comprehensive brief and all permit drawings for 40 and 50 Alta by June 13; tenants had alleged misrepresentation on permit paperwork and expressed displacement concerns.
The Board of Appeals continued the contested appeal over work at 50 Alta Street (unit under application 201809241235) to June 19, 2019, after tenants and neighbors raised concerns about prior permit representations, a history of alleged unauthorized office use, and the prospect of tenant displacement during mandatory seismic retrofit and related repairs.
Appellant Carolyn Duffy and tenant organizer Teresa Flandrich told the board they were not given adequate notice and that an earlier permit application had indicated "no occupants," a detail tenants said contributed to confusion and fear of displacement. Neighbor Aaron Peskin told the board he believes tenants were misled and urged the commissioners to grant the appeal. DBI inspector Joe Duffy and Planning's Scott Sanchez reviewed the project on-site and noted the current permit under appeal concerns a kitchen and bathroom renovation; DBI reported interior demolition had already begun and recommended further documentation before permit issuance for separate retrofit/permitting work.
Permit-holder counsel Ryan Patrick and owner Gerald Balzer described a broader program of work, including a mandatory seismic (soft-story) retrofit, stairs replacement, roof and deck repairs, and possible ADUs. Balzer provided a Gantt-style schedule in the hearing and said his plan would require temporary relocation for some tenants; he estimated 23 days of relocation for portions of 40 Alta and 10 days for affected units at 50 Alta in his schedule, while acknowledging some repairs (upper-deck replacement) could be more disruptive. DBI confirmed multiple permits have been filed for the property and advised some categories (soft-story retrofit, ADU work) must remain separate permits.
After discussion, President Frank Fung moved and the board voted to continue the matter to June 19, 2019. The permit holder must provide 11 copies of a comprehensive brief and all permit applications and drawings for 40 and 50 Alta and serve a copy on the appellant; those materials are due at the board office by June 13. The board also asked the permit holder to appoint a tenant liaison to improve communication.
Why it matters: Tenants and neighbors raised concerns about inadequate notice, prior permit language that indicated no occupants and alleged past illegal office use of an apartment. Commissioners said a fuller, consolidated record would be required before they could fairly adjudicate the array of related permits and tenant-impact issues.
Next step: The matter will be heard on June 19, 2019, after the permit holder submits the requested materials on June 13.
