[Build] Fwd: inspection warning?

Fri Jun 27 19:04:31 UTC 2014

Long time lurker, sometimes poster here.

I'm in Oregon right now, and my license isn't active (so I can't solve
the problem by meeting with an inspector) but I am a licensed GC in
the state of CA.

I would suggest not mentioning the walls to the inspector. Often the
only way they can confirm that they were built up to code is by taking
down all the drywall. If there is any electrical in the wall, that's a
separate issue. If windows were put in without the required framing
(cripple studs, king studs, header, etc) then that's also a code
violation.

In my experience when an inspector makes you open up something and
finds a code violation, they get *real* finicky about everything else
on the property. It's possibly your worst nightmare.

My two cents would be to just tear the walls down (if they force the
issue) instead of opening them up. That may be my own personal
inspector-caused-trauma rearing it's head, though.

On the subject of public record: the info is public, it's just not
available online.
http://www.sf311.org/index.aspx?page=716

I went ahead an looked up the parcel info, and didn't see any records
recorded (that goes back to 1990). So, it's not super likely that
there's a new building owner. Whether or not there are plans for
condos, of course I can't provide any relevant wisdom.

On Fri, Jun 27, 2014 at 10:47 AM, Shannon Lee <shannon at scatter.com> wrote:
> +1 to "remove the kitchen."
>
> Although there was no permit obtained, the walls were (originally) built to
> code and should pass inspection; it might not be a terrible idea to have
> someone with knowledge of the inspection process have a look. "Originally"
> in this case means "before there were windows put into various walls."
>
> I know I've been out of the loop, but has the building been sold? Robert
> Noel is not the name of the owners we rented from originally. If the
> building has been sold and this inspection thing is phase one of a plan to
> get us to move out so he can put condos or offices or something in, it might
> suggest a different course of action.
>
> --S
>
>
> On Fri, Jun 27, 2014 at 3:38 AM, Ben Kochie <ben at nerp.net> wrote:
>>
>> Yay! Remove the kitchen!
>>
>>
>> On June 27, 2014 10:34:04 AM CEST, Naomi Most <pnaomi at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>> This answers a LOT of questions.
>>>
>>>
>>> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
>>> From: Tim Pearson <tim at electriccitysf.com>
>>> Date: Thursday, June 26, 2014
>>> Subject: inspection warning?
>>> To: Naomi Most <naomi at nthmost.com>
>>> Cc: Neil Maclean <neil at warmcove.com>, Mitch Altman
>>> <maltman23 at hotmail.com>
>>>
>>>
>>> Hi Naomi,
>>>
>>> Here's a follow up on my conversation with two SF inspectors today, an
>>> electrical & building inspector:
>>>
>>> 1. First, to allay any remaining concerns, the electrical inspector is
>>> on-board with our plan and will not be making any more surprise visits.  I
>>> filled him in on the electrical prep-work we intend to do and I told him I
>>> will file the electrical permit this coming Monday, with the intention to
>>> schedule the survey inspection for July 8th. He said that this approach is
>>> fine with him and he doesn't anticipate any big new problems, based on his
>>> original visit.
>>>
>>> 2. FYI, I'm told that the complaint was filed by Robert Noel (who appears
>>> to be the building owner...or that's what the electrical insptr said: is
>>> this correct??)
>>>
>>> 3. I also spoke with a building department inspector who was initially
>>> ONLY concerned about people living in the space, since it is zoned for
>>> office/workspace, not housing.  Specifically, you cannot have a "full
>>> kitchen", only an "employee break room".  So the oven has to be removed
>>> along with any cooktop or range.  (A hotplate for boiling water is OK.)
>>> Also, there cannot be any bathing facilities (tub or shower).  He wants to
>>> visit to verify that nobody is living in the space, but (so far) he will not
>>> require that we file a building permit.  I say, so far bc...
>>>
>>> 4. Later in the call, the building inspector also mentioned that any
>>> building code violations would need to be corrected, in particular, any
>>> walls that were constructed without a permit must be legalized (ie, pass
>>> inspection...) or be removed.  I believe there are several walls in this
>>> category (though I didn't mention that to him).  He may 'look the other
>>> way,' during a visit, since the complaint is focused on peeps living in the
>>> space... or he may red-tag the un-permitted walls and require legalization.
>>>
>>> FYI, we are not General Contractors, so we wouldn't be the right advisors
>>> for you about how best to meet the requirements of the building code.
>>>
>>> We can recommend a GC who will have good ideas about how best to approach
>>> this part of the complaint.  If you like, we can ask him to stop by next
>>> week and share his thoughts.
>>>
>>> In the meantime, I can look up the building permit history and let you
>>> know what work HAS been permitted and inspected in the last 20 years or so.
>>>
>>> FYI, Neil and I will be in tomorrow morning if anyone wants to chat, or
>>> just give a call anytime.
>>>
>>> Cheers,
>>> Tim
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On Wed, Jun 25, 2014 at 7:43 PM, Naomi Most <naomi at nthmost.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> We were apparently surprise-visited on Monday, I was just informed.
>>>>
>>>> Here's the link:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> http://dbiweb.sfgov.org/dbipts/Default2.aspx?page=AddressComplaint&ComplaintNo=201465341
>>>>
>>>> Do you want me to call the city, or are you guys handling this?  I
>>>> thought you were going to schedule a walk-through inspection for early
>>>> July... but I don't know if that causes the city to "call off the
>>>> dogs" so to speak or whether their processes are a little disjointed.
>>>>
>>>> Have I misunderstood what's expected from Noisebridge in terms of
>>>> interacting with the city?
>>>>
>>>> Please advise.
>>>>
>>>> --Naomi
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Naomi Theora Most
>>>> naomi at nthmost.com
>>>> +1-415-728-7490
>>>>
>>>> skype: nthmost
>>>>
>>>> http://twitter.com/nthmost
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>> --
>> Sent from my Android device with K-9 Mail. Please excuse my brevity.
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Build mailing list
>> Build at lists.noisebridge.net
>> https://www.noisebridge.net/mailman/listinfo/build
>>
>
>
>
> --
> Shannon Lee
> (503) 539-3700
>
> "Any sufficiently slow descent into barbarism is indistinguishable from
> normalcy."
>
> -- @mediapathic
>
> _______________________________________________
> Build mailing list
> Build at lists.noisebridge.net
> https://www.noisebridge.net/mailman/listinfo/build
>