Alison Collins and her husband violated S.F. building permit laws in addition to illegal merger, city says

San Francisco school board member Alison Collins and husband Chris Collins, a veteran real estate developer, illegally completed construction without proper building permits at their troubled Russian Hill property, the city said Thursday after finding new violations.

The Collinses also failed to have all building, electrical and plumbing work inspected, resulting in an “unsafe building,” according to a Department of Building Inspection notice reviewed by The Chronicle.

Thursday’s notice of violation is a new determination by the city. It comes a week after the Planning Department ruled that the Collinses illegally merged two apartments to create a larger home that they unsuccessfully tried to sell in 2019. The new Building Department findings are additional violations and subject to separate fines.

The Collinses are liable for an estimated $4,636 in new fines, a number that could grow after the city investigates whether plumbing or electrical permit violations occurred, said Patrick Hannan, a Building Department spokesman.

They must file a new building permit with plans to correct the violations within 30 days and complete work within 90 days. Since the violations are not a “life and safety issue,” the property can continue to be occupied, Hannan said.

Alison and Chris Collins didn’t respond to a request for comment. The Chronicle is not publishing the building’s address because of the risk of harassment.

Department of Building Inspection staff visited the property on April 23 and found multiple instances of construction work that deviated from city approvals. A washer and dryer were removed from the basement and replaced by a wet bar, a basement shower was installed without approval, and a downstairs bedroom didn’t have closet partitions and was converted into an office, according to the notice of violation.

SOURCE:

sfchronicle     https://www.sfchronicle.com/local/article/Alison-Collins-and-her-husband-violated-S-F-16140486.php