100 Lake Street- an example of a “soft-story building” identified by the city as at risk during the next
big quake, and possibly in need of sesimic retrofitting.
In an effort to ensure that the city’s structures fare better during the next major earthquake, the city is undertaking a program to identify at-risk residences and if found deficient, require them to retrofit for seismic safety.
The buildings that are of most immediate concern to the city are known as “multi-unit soft-story buildings”, which are defined as: wood-frame structures, 3 stories or more, with 5 or more residential units, built before May 1973, and having a “soft-story” condition on the ground floor.
The SF Public Press has published a series of stories around seismic safety recently, including a preliminary list of potentially dangerous “soft-story” buildings that the Department of Building Inspection has been keeping since 2009 (but has not fully verified with official inspections).
In the 94118 and 94121 area codes alone, there are several hundred buildings identified. Across the city, the list includes 2,929 addresses, housing an estimated 58,000 people.
Is your residence on the list? Click here to look up your zip code in the SF Public Press article
Next Wednesday night, there will be a public meeting (flyer (PDF)) about the Citizens Action Plan for Seismic Safety program (CAPSS), introducing the proposed Pilot Program of ‘Soft Story’ Projects to implement seismic upgrade in those most vulnerable of residential/small commercial buildings.
The meeting will take place at the County Fair Building in Golden Gate Park from 6:30pm until 8:30pm. RSVP is requested.
The plan for how these required retrofits will be carried out is still under discussion. Retrofitting all 3,000 soft-story buildings in San Francisco at the same time is impossible, notes the SF Public Press, simply because “there aren’t enough engineers and contractors who know how to do the work.”
To find out more about the CAPSS program, visit the program website and attend the January 30 meeting at the County Fair Building (esp. if your residence is on the list!).
Sarah B,
Of course you should be concerned if you life in one. You should also be concerned if you live NEXT to one or there’s one on your block. If one collapses and starts a fire there goes the neighborhood. It’s a problem that affects us all.
This is a very important issue and I feel publishing the list is a good way to create pressure for landlords/owners to retrofit.
That said, the IR building I live in *is* on the list, but has been “seismically upgraded” years ago (there’s a certificate in the lobby and everything). I wonder how up-to-date the published list is. Maybe it’s time to send the those inspectors after all, then revise, THEN take more targeted action.
I went to the site & couldn’t find recommendations for a company that does retrofitting. I own my building (it’s not on the list) & would like to retrofit. Does anyone have recommendations?
I’m personally not 100% clear on what constitutes a “soft-story” building. Does the entire ground floor have to be garage space. How about if the 3 story unit has a 2 car garage and an in-law. I’ve read the wiki on the concept. A bit hard to judge the 70% stiffness. The building pictured appears to have much less garage than apartment on the ground floor.. but it is hard to tell I guess.
The list is, by admission, not complete.
“The buildings that are of most immediate concern to the city are known as “multi-unit soft-story buildings”, which are defined as: wood-frame structures, 3 stories or more, with 5 or more residential units, built before May 1973, and having a “soft-story” condition on the ground floor.”
My building meets all those criteria except it was built after 1973 (1999) however, I’m in a “very high” liquefaction susceptibility zone. My address IS on the list too. I wonder if this “preliminary list” does not take into account what year the building was built.
At least you Richmond District people are on solid footing.
Cheers! It’s the best time to make some plans for the future and it’s time to be happy.