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Board upholds enforcement at 819 Ellis, denies appeals over alleged illegal hostel
Summary
The Board of Appeals denied appeals tied to alleged illegal residential use at 819 Ellis, citing longstanding DBI enforcement actions and life‑safety concerns; the board directed departments to pursue compliance and possible city attorney referral.
The San Francisco Board of Appeals on March 22 denied two appeals related to 819 Ellis Street after city inspectors and planning staff described years of enforcement activity documenting an unlawful residential use in a building whose lawful entitlement is parking.
Ray Sloan, representing the property owner’s supporters, said the owner sought to legalize a hostel/short‑term lodging use and requested 60 days to prepare applications and plans. Planning and Department of Building Inspection staff told the board the city first opened an enforcement case in February 2014, that a joint inspection found bunk beds and conversions on the third floor, and that multiple notices of violation and an enforcement file remain open. DBI and housing inspectors described structural and life‑safety concerns and stressed the department’s limited ability to accept incomplete legalization filings without adequate documentation.
Inspector Joe Duffy and Zoning Administrator Scott Sanchez recommended upholding enforcement and referring the matter to the City Attorney’s Office if the owner did not show good‑faith progress; Duffy highlighted notices of violation that list structural and permit deficiencies and said some spaces lacked required life‑safety features.
After discussion the board voted to deny the appeals and affirm the departments’ enforcement actions, allowing DBI and the City Attorney’s Office to pursue compliance. The board’s action leaves the enforcement case active and available for legal referral to remove any ongoing hazardous occupancy.
