Prompted by a two-part hit piece published by Mission Local, a formal investigation by the City Attorney’s Office into alleged favoritism by the Interim Director of San Francisco’s Department of Building Inspection (DBI), Patrick O’Riordan, has found no evidence of favoritism by O’Riordan; determined that O’Riordan has “impartially enforced... Read More »

Having admitted to accepting a previously unreported loan of $180,000 from Freydoon Ghassemzadeh, whose family operates SIA Consulting and development, a San Francisco Building Inspector that signed-off on a number of SIA Consulting’s projects in San Francisco is now under investigation and has been placed on administrative leave. According... Read More »

Walter Wong, the permit expediter for the 555 Fulton Street project and head of the W. Wong Construction Company, has agreed to repay the City for $1.45 million in no-bid contracts and grants awarded to Wong and his companies by San Francisco’s Department of Public Works, the SFPUC, and... Read More »

As part of the widening probe and criminal investigation into San Francisco’s former Director of Public Works, Mohammed Nuru, the City Attorney’s Office has just issued 14 subpoenas related to the (waylaid) Hayes Valley development at 555 Fulton Street. Six (6) of the subpoenas were issued to companies linked... Read More »

Having been accused of routinely engaging in the under-permitted renovation and expansion of residential properties throughout San Francisco, Ashok Gujral, a local real estate developer, has agreed to pay $1.2 million to settle with the City. In addition to the cash settlement, Gujral has been required “to bring all... Read More »

Back in 1999, Caroline Novak appears to have fraudulently purchased a below market rate (BMR) condo at 300 Beale Street, having failed to disclose that she already co-owned property in San Mateo which would have disqualified her from participating in San Francisco’s BMR program. Having paid $178,500 for the... Read More »

City Attorney Dennis Herrera has just filed suit in San Francisco Superior Court against Ashok Gujral, a local real estate developer and investor accused of routinely engaging in under-permitted construction on residential properties throughout San Francisco. According to the complaint, Gujral would seek permits for simple and uncomplicated projects... Read More »

The owner and operator of a warren of illegally constructed rental units discovered in the basement of the Clean Wash Center building at 4680-4690 Mission Street, on the border of Mission Terrace and the Excelsior, have agreed to pay over $3.2 million in penalties and restitution. Built in the... Read More »

Back in 2008, a local real estate agent purchased a below market rate (BMR) one-bedroom condo on the eighth floor of the newly built SoMa Grand for $221,698. As part of the purchase agreement for the affordable unit, the agent signed an affidavit affirming that he would occupy unit... Read More »

A warren of 20 illegally constructed rental units were discovered in the basement of the Clean Wash Center building at 4680-4690 Mission Street, on the border of Mission Terrace and the Excelsior, earlier this year. Built in the building’s former garage and constructed of wood-framed partitions – with two... Read More »