While not currently permitted for either office or residential use, the Mission District warehouse building at 3075 21st Street has been carved up into a warren of “offices,” at least one of which is still outfitted with a bed, along with a couple of unwarranted kitchens and baths. And... Read More »

Built in 1936 and known in architectural circles as the Largent House, the modernist home at 49 Hopkins Avenue hit the market listed for $1.475 million in 2013 and sold for $1.4 million that December. From the listing at the time: “One of a kind trophy home in Twin... Read More »

Responding to a complaint about the illegal addition of a residential unit above the Central City Glass shop at 759 Harrison Street back in 2003, a city inspector met with the owner of the four-story building who stated that the unit had “been in place for 20-25 years” despite... Read More »

With the third floor of the Polk Gulch garage at 819 Ellis Street having been illegally converted into the “American International Hostel,” an un-permitted tourist hotel, the City had ordered the hostel to immediately cease operations over two years ago, at which point the building was on the market... Read More »

With the tragic Ghost Ship fire leading to heightened concerns about the underground conversion of industrial buildings into un-permitted dwelling units, a formal complaint has been filed with the city alleging that the 14,000-square-foot warehouse at 1660 Jerrold Avenue, adjacent to Flora Grubb Gardens in San Francisco’s Bayview neighborhood,... Read More »

Having been tagged for hiring a landscaper to simply start digging a new off-street parking pad for his newly acquired Sunnyside home, permits, plans and the City be damned, the owner of 698 Joost is now planning to go underground. While a permit to complete an emergency shoring of the hillside... Read More »

Since the beginning of the year, nearly 900 complaints have been filed with the city, alleging an illegal use, addition or action with respect to a property or property owner in San Francisco. While the complaints have ranged from the operation of an illegal “art studio/swingers sex club” on... Read More »

San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera filed suit against the Academy of Art University today, alleging that the institution “schemed to violate state and local laws in its aggressive acquisition and use of vast real estate holdings in San Francisco.” As we first reported earlier this year, over 80... Read More »

As we first reported last year, of the 40 known properties currently operated by the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, 30 appeared to be operating illegally without necessary permits or approvals. But upon further review, it’s actually 33 of the 40 properties, or 82.5 percent, which are... Read More »

A real estate agent purchased 2523 34th Avenue, which was listed as a two-bedroom Parkside home with an (unwarranted) two-bedroom in-law unit on the ground floor, both of which were tenant occupied, for $850,000 this past October. Within a few days, an anonymous complaint was filed with the City,... Read More »