Tuesday, December 23, 2014

UPDATE - Mandatory Seismic Retrofit Program for Wood Framed Buildings - Soft Story Financing Program



UPDATE - December 23, 2014

The Earthquake Safety Implementation Program (ESIP) is pleased to announce the next phase of the Soft Story Financing Program. 

Working with industry leaders the ESIP team have completed the development of a program that will allow property owners required to upgrade their multifamily soft story buildings to fully finance their upgrades. AllianceNRG has partnered with the City to provide turnkey access to all of the following financing services:
  • 100% Financing of the upgrade
  • Long Term financing -Up to 30 years- No balloon payment 
  • Finances only the improvement - no need to refinance the entire mortgage
  • Competitive interest rates
  • If the property is sold the assessment may transfer to the new owner 
  • If accepted and documents are signed, the program can pay for engineering design work upon approval by city. There is no need for the engineering and design costs to come out of your pocket, which could run up to $20,000 

If you have any questions about this program or would like to apply, please feel free to contact AllianceNRG at (855) 431-4400. Building off the 99% compliance rate with the screening requirement, this is a critical step forward in our effort to improve San Francisco's earthquake resiliency. 

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UPDATE - October 8, 2014

BOMA San Francisco Members:

If you have buildings in your portfolio that meet the Mandatory Seismic Retrofit Program for Wood Framed Buildings, please be sure that you have complied with the initial screening requirement that was due to the San Francisco Department of Building Inspection on September 15th.  Details in this article in the San Francisco Chronicle, here.

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UPDATE - June 20, 2014

The San Francisco Department of Building Inspection will be hosting a Q&A session on the City's Soft Story Program on August 11, 2014 at the Koret Auditorium, San Francisco Public Library from 3:00-5:00 p.m.

The purpose of the gathering is to assist those property owners that qualify for the Mandatory Seismic Retrofit Program for Wood Framed buildings (details in our previous blog post, below) in completing their screening forms prior to the September 15, 2014 compliance deadline. Please pass along this information to your friends and colleagues who may be affected or who may be interested in attending to learn more about the program and its requirements.

RSVP by clicking here.

For more information on the Soft Story Program visit www.sfdbi.org/softstory.

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Original Post - April 18, 2013


UPDATE - April 18, 2013

The Mandatory Seismic Retrofit Program for Wood Framed (soft story) Buildings legislation was signed by Mayor Ed Lee this morning - the anniversary of the 1906 earthquake.  We thank the City and County of San Francisco for its continued leadership in earthquake resiliency.

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UPDATE - March 18, 2013

BOMA supports the Mandatory Seismic Retrofit Program for Wood Framed Buildings, or Soft Story Building Legislation, that is scheduled to be heard at the San Francisco Board of Supervisors' Land Use and Economic Development Committee.  This measure derives from CAPSS, Community Action Plan for Seismic Safety, an effort that BOMA San Francisco Codes and Regulations Committee members have been involved with since its inception.

This legislation, which includes sensible phase-in provisions for owners of residential/mixed-use properties, is a step in the right direction for the City and County of San Francisco to improve housing resiliency in the event of a major earthquake in the region.


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UPDATE - December 19, 2012

If you are interested in attending a CAPSS meeting, the next gathering will be on Monday, January 28, 2013 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at San Francisco City Hall, Room 34.  

BOMA San Francisco Codes and Regulations Committee member Will Grogan will be in attendance and will provide a report on the CAPSS meeting discussion at the February 27, 2013 Codes meeting.

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Original Post - November 26, 2012 

The CAPSS/Earthquake Safety Implementation Program continues to work toward a more resilient San Francisco. Here is a very brief update on their activities:
  • Patrick Otellini appointed Director of Earthquake Safety
  • Soft-story building program final review
  • Private School Earthquake Safety Working Group progress
  • Upcoming CAPSS/Earthquake Safety Implementation Program Public Meeting

A Message from Laurence Kornfield

Dear Friends,

Big news! The Mayor has appointed Patrick Otellini to be San Francisco’s Director of Earthquake Safety. We are fortunate to have such a qualified and enthusiastic new Director. Patrick comes to the CAPSS/Earthquake Safety Implementation Program from the private sector where has spent over a decade working across the spectrum of San Francisco’s building community – he is intimately familiar with the City’s permit approval and inspection processes, building owner and user concerns, the pragmatic construction issues of costs, scheduling, and financing. He has been closely engaged in the CAPSS earthquake safety work, including serving as a committee chairperson on the 2010 Mayor’s Soft Story Task Force. Patrick, who will be working directly under City Administrator Naomi Kelly, brings passion, vitality and commitment to the position of Director of Earthquake Safety. I am thrilled that we are fortunate enough to get Patrick Otellini in this role.

I will continue to work on the CAPSS/Earthquake Safety Implementation Program (ESIP) both on our ongoing programs and as an advisor to Patrick and his staff, as we embark on our challenging 30-year implementation program. I am extraordinarily grateful to have Patrick join me in the leadership of our crucial earthquake safety programs. Patrick’s commitment, the overwhelming support of the City leadership, and your continued involvement mean that we will succeed in making San Francisco a safer and more resilient city.

With much thanks,

Laurence Kornfield

Click here to download the Mayor’s Office press release.

Soft-Story Building Final Review

All of the pieces are now in place to move forward with a program to dramatically improve the safety of many of San Francisco’s most hazardous buildings. Over the next few months the Earthquake Safety Working Group will work to determine the best ways in which to implement the proposed regulations for earthquake upgrade of vulnerable soft-story buildings, focusing on buildings having five or more dwelling units and three or more stories (ESIP Task A.3.a). Much of the groundwork for these regulations was laid under the 2010 Mayor’s Soft Story Task Force. The CAPSS team is looking forward to a collaborative, consensus-based effort to make San Francisco’s housing stock more resilient and safer. More details on this in the near future.

Private Schools Earthquake Safety

A Private Schools Earthquake Safety Working Group, under volunteer chairperson Laura Samant, is studying the technical and policy issues related to the earthquake risk of private schools in San Francisco, and will propose ideas for how the City may best address private school safety (ESIP Task A.6.f). The group is exploring challenging issues such as community expectation for school safety, evaluation of earthquake risk, and potential building improvement opportunities. A report on the findings of this Working Group is to be delivered to the City Administrator and the Mayor in late 2013. If you would like to receive information about the activities of the Working Group by email or to participate in the Working Group, please contact Micah Hilt, micah.hilt@sfgov.org.

The next meeting will be in City Hall, Room 370, on December 6, 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. Click here to download our notice to the private schools.

Upcoming CAPSS/Earthquake Safety Implementation Program Public Meeting

December 10, 11:00 a.m. until 1: 00 p.m. at City Hall, Room 370.

Please join the CAPSS team for an update on their many CAPSS/Earthquake Safety Implementation programs. This will be an opportunity to ask questions and to learn how you can get further involved in their activities.

Building Rating Systems

The CAPSS recommendations for improving San Francisco’s earthquake resilience were founded on an ability to evaluate or rate building earthquake performance and to effectively communicate about building performance with the public (ESIP Task A.6.h). Building rating systems for buildings of all types, from older homes to new high rises, are now being developed. The CAPSS/Earthquake Safety Implementation Program staff is working with the groups preparing these rating systems to assure that proposed rating systems will meet San Francisco’s needs. Expect to see one or more rating system proposals within the next few months.

Update to the Community Safety Element Adopted

The Board of Supervisors, following the lead of the Planning Commission, unanimously adopted an update to the Community Safety Element of San Francisco’s General Plan that incorporates many earthquake resilience goals, including those outlined in the CAPSS work. Thank much to Planning Department and Department of Emergency Management staff for their help in preparing this document.

Shelter-in-Place and Neighborhood Support Center update

The Shelter-in-Place and the related Neighborhood Support Center concepts focus on keeping San Franciscans in their homes, in their neighborhoods, and informed and supported after an earthquake. This will empower communities, reduce the demand for emergency housing, and facilitate a more rapid recovery. The Department of Emergency Management, SF SAFE, the Neighborhood Empowerment Network, SPUR, CAPSS/Earthquake Safety Implementation Program and many other groups and agencies have worked together to prepare demonstration programs, work which is actively continuing (ESIP Task A.4.b). More details on this coming soon!

A few of the other CAPSS/ Earthquake Safety Implementation Program programs underway:

  • Demonstration of one- and two-family home earthquake improvements (ESIP Task A.6.b)
  • Focus on earthquake improvements for economically-disadvantaged San Franciscans (ESIP Task A.6.e)
  • Provide information and assistance about renter’s insurance and other insurance (ESIP Task A.1.b)

Thank you for your continued support of CAPSS and our Earthquake Safety Implementation Program.

Laurence Kornfield
Special Assistant to the City Administrator
laurence@kornfield.org

Patrick Otellini
Director of Earthquake Safety
patrick.otellini@sfgov.org

Micah Hilt
Earthquake Safety Implementation Program
micah.hilt@sfgov.org



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