More problems at DBI
The Department of Building Inspection is just not getting any better, now is it? Today’s Chronicle is reporting on a little FBI raid of the offices on Wednesday…
FBI agents armed with a search warrant removed documents Wednesday from the files of a senior inspector at the San Francisco Department of Building Inspection related to a residential property on Alabama Street in the city’s Mission District.According to Building Inspection officials, federal agents spent two hours at the department’s 1650 Mission Street office before taking documents central to the permitting process of a residential building renovation.
A city official familiar with the department said the senior inspector whose files were removed is Leo McFadden. Records show that McFadden owns a parcel at 838 Alabama St. through his company Jersey Street Associates. He could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
McFadden was the inspector in charge of reviewing a property that has been a focus of the criminal investigation of building inspection Supervisor Augustine Fallay, who has pleaded not guilty to charges in state court that he accepted bribes, including a $50,000 loan, and other favors over a 12-year stretch in exchange for approving permit applications. Fallay’s case is scheduled to go to trial this fall. [more...]
It’s no wonder that we see so many homes for sale with disclosures about work done without a permit. The process has gotten so convoluted that neither homeowners or contractors want to deal with anyone at 1660 Mission Street.
Now that’s not to say that doing work without a permit is a good thing, but we’re seeing more and more of it. Not only is the city losing money, but LOTS of work may be done to the point of being unsafe. And that’s not good for anyone.
The only folks making any money are the third-party permit expediters who help contractors and homeowners navigate the bureaucracy and paperwork of the permitting process. This is usually only necessary for large projects, condo conversions, or changes in building status (adding or removing a unit), but the smaller jobs might just skip the permitting process altogether, knowing that home buyers will likely not know the difference or care.
As a home buyer, make sure you speak to the contractor’s inspection service of your choice about the amount of work done without a permit and the possible ramifications down the road.
FBI probe results in another raid on DBI [Examiner]
Permit manager received loan after condo OKd, papers show [SFHomeBlog]
Help Wanted: SF Planning Department and Building Inspections [SFHomeBlog]
