Rincon Hill's huge towers put on hold over seismic concerns

From today's Chronicle, "San Francisco building inspectors are withholding permission for construction of a towering residential complex on Rincon Hill over concerns about whether it would withstand a major earthquake and remain habitable, The Chronicle has learned."

"Despite approval of the project's design and engineering by other city bodies earlier this year, staff members of the San Francisco Department of Building Inspection want further assurances about the seismic resilience of One Rincon Hill -- which would consist of two residential towers, one 55 stories high and the other 45 stories -- at First and Harrison streets."

"Nothing in building inspection files reviewed by The Chronicle or said in interviews with building inspection officials indicates that concerns over the engineering can't be satisfied and the construction permit eventually issued. But the inquiry by the city building inspectors carries enormous financial and public policy implications."

"Engineer Ronald Hamburger, a member of the special city design-review panel, which recommended this summer that a construction permit be issued for One Rincon Hill, said nothing about the concerns being raised by city building inspectors gave him any doubt."

"I think it is likely that this building would resist a repeat of the 1906 earthquake," Hamburger said. "I think there's a good probability that the building would be immediately re-occupiable."