buildings that look worn and unusable and recreate them with the highest level of environmental quality we could possibly have. i know the best talent is here working with cahill and our veterans and veterans' offices to make sure that this housing opportunity comes in on time and does its best to reflect our values. i want to thank everyone for assembling together to make sure this promise is delivered. a special thank you to our hud national office, the secretary, donovan. we had a chance to talk about this system -- specific project. the deputy secretary came out to view the progress. it emanates from the national leadership by an increasing strongly that we are delivering

on our promises. this is why we get to announce that we're still the third lowest unemployment rate in the whole state of california. we are delivering on these promises. thank you for all coming today. [applause] >> at this time, i would like to ask the assistant secretary to come up and say a few remarks. as the mayor mentioned, she is a wonderful supporter of affordable housing. her lifelong career as been committed to economic justice and the creation of affordable housing. she is a personal friend and somebody in the right position at the right time. without further ado, assistant

secretary marquez. [applause] >> it is my pleasure to be here. i do not get to come home very often. it is nice to be here. we have been friends a long time. we're both natives. we have watched the city changed over the years for the better. mayor, congratulations on your election. we're also proud. i want to thank you for helping us out and doing such a wonderful job in this area. at hud, we're focused on the issue of ending veteran homelessness. we have made a commitment to the president that we would end veteran homelessness in five years, along with the secretary of the va. we have worked hard to deliver on the promise. in the past year, we have brought it down by 12% in one year. that is difficult to achieve. it comes from specific focus between the va and different offices in hud to make that

happen across the country. this particular project is wonderful. it is serving those who have been on the streets along time. there are folks who have really suffered. we do not want to forget them as young girl men and women are coming home. we do not want to forget the folks who have been on the streets along time -- a long time. they have aged beyond their years. we want to help them. this is the type of program that does it. does it with special plans. the whole program has built over 1 million units in 20 years. it is a fabulous program. it helps extremely low income people all the way to home ownership for people just beginning. this is an incredible example of that. the couple of days ago, the president made a huge announcement about housing. one thing that does not get as much play in the press is the focus on the very poor.

he made a $1 billion commitment to the first affordable housing trust fund. he has said it will be included in his budget in a few weeks to congress. that affordable housing trust fund is focused on rental housing for people at 30% or below the area median income, folks like those that will get the opportunity to call this place home. we're very excited because we're already working on what has been passed but never funded. we're calling on congress to fund it. the president has also made a commitment that included in his budget will be $15 billion program called project for build. it is the neighborhood stabilization program to rehabilitate foreclosed properties across the country. it will put people back to work. we estimate the $15 billion

program will create over 200,000 jobs and treat over 350,000 units. many of them look like this and achieve these goals. today we had encouraging news. the unemployment rate in january dropped to 8.3%, the lowest in three years. over 257,000 jobs were created in the last month. we're moving in the right direction. we have a long way to go. a comprehensive list of programs like the one the president obama announced a couple of days ago, for the struggling poor, those working their way into the middle class, and ultimately a national refinancing program that will help those are current in payments to stay current. it will ease stress and help families save about $3,000 a year. we're talking about a full complement of programs that takes you from when you need a hand up to those who just need a

hand to stay where they are and keep fighting for their families. i am pleased the mayor and staff invited us to witness this. i grew up here. going to school, i was right here every day riding by. i knew exactly where this building is. thank you for to beautiful day to be home. congratulations, mayor, and your entire team on what you are doing. i have had the pleasure of working with the non-profit communities involved in this project for a long time. other members of my family continue to be involved in san francisco. best of luck. i look forward to coming back and greeting the first tenants calling this place home. congratulations and thank you. [applause]

>> thank you, very much. the mayor mentioned the development team managing the construction of the project is ccdc, chinatown community development corporation. the project manager is kim. she gets to the day to day work to shepherd this through. one of the greatest challenges of affordable housing is that it is difficult to finance affordable housing and get it constructed. it is even harder to keep it running. the organization that will be keeping a running -- it running and serving the residence for many years is swords to plowshares. they will have the heavy lifting over the long time. to really change the lives of those residents of this

particular development. they have had a long and successful track record in doing so and deserve all of the support that we can give them going forward in the future. the whole notion of it takes a village, it usually takes a whole district to do a project. in some cases, it takes the delegation in washington, d.c., also to help. there are many people to thank. i would like to thank the leaders office. i see dan and nicole, also the d.c. staff, bob edmonson, i want him to know that we really appreciate his efforts on behalf of this project. the leaders in helping to finance this particular project also. in addition to the leader's office, we want to thank senator

boxer's office. there they are. thank you very much for being here. thank you for all of your assistance. supervisor kim, she is a wonderful supporter of affordable housing. she could not be here because of a scheduling conflict. as we have wonderful leadership at the national level at hud, we also have wonderful leaders about the regional level. this is the regional office that has contributed greatly to the success of affordable housing in san francisco. i would like to acknowledge ophelia. [applause] rafael, maria. [applause] they are the team that does the implementation.

one thing about this project, we have talked about the sponsors, the bottom line is it is about the people who will be here. i wanted to do a shot out -- shout out to cheryl cooke and the county veterans office as well as john from the veterans affairs. they are the folks locally looking after our veterans. they are advocating on their behalf to ensure that they get the services they deserve. lastly, i would like to acknowledge the department heads who are here. mayor mentioned bevan, also trent. there are awards the will help to fund the operation of this development. the ongoing operating support

will probably come through his department. this shows the commitment of the city towards providing wraparound services to our veterans. leslie, i like to acknowledge -- lastly, i like to acknowledge those whose debt financing helped -- gap financing helped. you on the unit contributed to the project. this project is have we done. -- you have all contributed to the project. this project is have we done. it will be even better when we can open the doors. blogging rosenthal -- bobby rosenthal from the veterans department. [applause] we are going to pass out hard hats. we will see them before. i am sure everybody will be here when we open the doors again for our veterans. they do, everyone.

-- thank you, everyone. [applause] >> thank you very much. >> good morning. today is wednesday, january 18, 2012. this is a meeting of the abatement appeals board. np to turn off the electronic devices. the first item is roll call. [roll call] commissioner romero is excused. we have a quorum. the next item is the oath.

all part is giving testimony today, please stand and raise your right hand. do you swear the testimony you are about to give is to to the best of your knowledge? thank you. you may be seated. the next item is item c, approval of minutes, discussion and action for the meeting held on november 17, 2010, december 15, 2010, and april 20, 2011. commissioner lee: are we able to take all three at the same time? commissioner murphy: motion. >> all in favor? >> aye. >> the minutes are approved.

we're going to begin with the appeals. president lee, would you like to explain the allotted time? ouacommissioner lee: let's do te continued appeals first. is there a special process for continuing appeals? let's get an update from the department first on what is happening, and then we will hear -- is it the other way around? commissioner murphy: maybe we could let the appellate go first, if they have their request? commissioner lee: the first item is 1117 gary boulevard. >> each has seven minutes for the presentation, three minutes for each side for their rebuttal. >> i am the attorney for the appellant. i am here to request another continuance of this matter

consistent with an agreement that my client, the appellant, has with the department. we were here in november, requested a continuance to allow the processing of the permit application that have been filed by my client. application has been approved by the historic preservation. the permit was released by planning in the last week or so. it is now with dbi in a structural plan check review. my anticipation is the permit will be through in the next couple of weeks hopefully. at that point, once the permit is issued, it is clients intention to withdraw the appeal. i would hope the board would look at this as an opportunity to move this casey2ñiv÷ along, i would request a continuance. commissioner murphy: how much of a continuance? >> i think 60 days should be sufficient. commissioner lee: does the

department have anything to say? commissioner murphy: we agree with your decision. let's make it 90 days. commissioner lee: any public comment? >> e this item for 90 days. i need to do a roll-call vote. [roll call] the motion passes unanimously. commissioner lee: ok, let's go 554 fell more strict -- filmore street. xópx#q>> acting senior building

inspector for the department. appeal number is 6753, address 554 filmore street. evaluation description, work includes removal of finishes, also to stained glass windows. an order of a bit with conditions, 10 days to respond, filing herman for notice of the evaluation period 60 days to obtain inspection approval. staff recommendation is to uphold the order of abatement and impose a suspension. comy

filed for the permit? >> they have filed for the permit. the last entry was november 28, 2011. commissioner murphy: the permit they filed for, does that cover on, this would clear the violations. commissioner lee: no question with the appellant. no? >> i have nothing to report other than we filed for the permit a couple days after this hearing in november. commissioner murphy: so isn't

planning now? you did not receive the permit? >> yes, we received the permit. commissioner walker: do you want a continuation? >> yes, until we get the permit. commissioner murphy: does anyone know how long this would take? >> we could consider treating both cases similarly, if that is ok with you. commissioner walker: 90 days? commissioner murphy: i am not sure if that is enough, talking about planning. commissioner walker: maybe they could come back in 90 days to let us know. commissioner murphy: second. >> roll-call vote.

is the public comment on this item? thank you. we can continue with the vote on the motion. [roll call] the motion carried unanimously. item e. new appeals to orders and abatement. 6755, 336 pear street. seven minutes for the department to speak, seven minutes from the appellant. rebuttal then public comments. >> members of the board, good

morning. chief housing inspector representing the department of building inspection in this matter. this is a case that is before you in which property owner has appealed the order of abatement issues by the director's representative, they are asking for more time to address the structure that is at the rear of the lot of record in this case. glñ is an eight-unit apt building at the front of the structure. i will be showing some photographs. here is the front of the subject building. this location is, in addition to being a parking area, drives through to the middle of the a lot. all of this is going to be germane with respect to the blighted conditions that have existed for some time. here is a real photograph.

here is the apartment building. then there is a space here where the driveway comes through the bottom of the building. the structure in question is here. this is at the end of the lot line. here is more detail -- commissioner murphy: are these eight units occupied? >> no, it is dilapidated. the front building, the apartment building, as we put in our staff report, is a fully occupied eight-unit building, with the dilapidated building in the back. that building is approximately here. i am going to show you a photograph of what the structure looks like. this is in your staff report. you cannot see all the structure, but the front portion has been collapsed, there has

been some shoring. we had been at this since may 2010, and as of this morning, there is not a building permit application to address serious blighted conditions. albeit, this is not the front of the,!ñr18 this building and adjacent properties have to deal with this. the property owner's representative will address this, i am sure, but the concern is whether or not they can legalize this. if they want to work with planning, that is totally up to them, but too much time has gone on. we spoke with the planning department yesterday, one of the team leaders. the maps clearly show, in 1919, this was a stable. later on, this was for a garage. we cannot find any building

permit application that shows it çt used legally for a dwelling unit, on the site inspections show there was some residential use going on at some time. while that mayy the property owner, staff does not have a problem with that, but we believe no continuance should be given. an order of debate and should be upheld because this is a serious blighted condition. because we have this ordinance, looking at things more carefully, we want to make sure we are consistent. that is our recommendation based on the findings we have. if there are any questions, i have more exhibits. i think you would want to hear from the property owner. commissioner murphy: i have one question. commissioner hechanova: -- commissioner hechanova: i have one question. were these taken from the rear side of the property? >> this was taken in their rear

yard. the inspector is standing somewhere under these trees looking in this direction. commissioner hechanova: thank you. commissioner walker: it seems to me -- i had heard there was a fire? it is not just falling apart, it looks like it burned. >> what we saw when we were out there, there was a collapse of the front portion of the structure. 7uu+k8 inspections for them to short it. today, 20 months later, there is no permits. -- shore it. there was concern from individuals in the edges apartment buildings, use the area.

there is also parking back there. one of the things the planning department told us is the apartment building is already legally nonconforming. the buildout under present zoning would be four units. unless there was substantial evidence that there was ever a residential use back there, what they would be looking at would be to repair or demolish the structure, restore the parking. that would be the only thing planning would be looking at. because of the rear yard, it is unlikely that they would approve any such use for residential. the problem is, the property owner should apart -- started that process months ago. commissioner murphy: 7 decide that is against the property, the neighboring property on the

back, we do not have a picture of that? >> there is so much vegetation, it is hard to take pictures. the property line ends approximately here. as you can see, it was hard to get pictures with the vegetation. perhaps the property owner could give you more. perhaps they have other pictures they were able to take. commissioner hechanova: was there evidence of occupancy by animals or birds, by virtue of being opened? >> yes, it is open to the elements. the other concern we have is, over a period of time, the building descender goods further. in the last 20 months, there has probably been more damage. -- deteriorates further. the building needs to be either repaired, or in this case, probably demolished.

>> i am representing the levenson family, the owners of the property. this is a photograph of the building. this has been removed so far. we have a seriously dilapidated building on this site. we no time has gone on. this is 20 months. the property owner has not stood still in this time period. the building is held in trust by two families. it took a great deal of effort for the various owners to agree as to what course of action to follow. city planning staff. they are willing to entertain

the use of this building as a single-family apartment over a broad -- garage. we are ready to permit -- submit the permit application this week. i have copies, if you wish to look at them. they include floor plans -- this is all in preparation of a site plan. in addition, the property owners capped the gas, electric, and water lines. the building is vacant. >> so there is plumbing fixtures -- commissioner murphy: so there are plumbing fixtures in there? >> yes, and as you can see from this picture, there was residential use. i should probably leave it right there. we had to deal h