Newsom: SF Homeowners Accountable for Retrofits
Friday, May 30, 2008, by Jimmy Stamp
In preparation for the next Big Quake, whenever that inevitable day finally arrives, hizzoner the Gav has turned his attention to preventing the collapse of our beloved neighborhoods. His new plan requires homeowners, especially those with "soft-story" buildings (those with garages on the first level), to retrofit their buildings with seismic upgrades. At their own expense. During the 1989 Lorna Prieta earthquake, the Marina was heavily damaged and this new plan came about as an effort to prevent history from repeating itself. But according to a new map from the Department of Building inspection, it's the Outer Sunset, not the Marina, that holds the title of most vulnerable nabe. The new earthquake "plan" (and we use the term loosely) requires city officials to go door-to-door Avon lady style alerting residents that they must upgrade their building. No financial assistance is offered, like we said. Perhaps Outer Sunset resident Shawna McGrew best sums up the local attitude, "It's my home; it's my home to lose."
· Quake safety an ‘obligation’ [Examiner]
About Curbed SF
From the Golden Gate to The Mission, in San Francisco, it all comes back to our neighborhoods: where we live, where we work, where we eat, and where we play. Covering real estate sales, rental prices, and news-making deals and much more, it's all on Curbed SF. More about Curbed SF...
In preparation for the next Big Quake, whenever that inevitable day finally arrives, hizzoner the Gav has turned his attention to preventing the collapse of our beloved neighborhoods. His new plan requires homeowners, especially those with "soft-story" buildings (those with garages on the first level), to retrofit their buildings with seismic upgrades. At their own expense. During the 1989 Lorna Prieta earthquake, the Marina was heavily damaged and this new plan came about as an effort to prevent history from repeating itself. But according to a new map from the Department of Building inspection, it's the Outer Sunset, not the Marina, that holds the title of most vulnerable nabe. The new earthquake "plan" (and we use the term loosely) requires city officials to go door-to-door Avon lady style alerting residents that they must upgrade their building. No financial assistance is offered, like we said. Perhaps Outer Sunset resident Shawna McGrew best sums up the local attitude, "It's my home; it's my home to lose."
Full Content Feed
