PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
Code Enforcement
CITY OF 285 Hamilton Avenue
PALO Pato Alto, CA 94301
ALTO 650.329.2605
2nd Notice of Violation
VIA PERSONAL SERVICE AND POSTING
VIA CERTIFIED MAIL: 7018 3090 0001 0801 1122
March 28, 2024
Responsible Person(s): Subject Property:
AURORA RISING INC/ATLAS STAR 531 Stanford Avenue
531 Stanford Avenue Palo Alto, CA 94306
Palo Alto, CA 94306-1113
APN: 137-01-121, 137-01-002, 137-01-003
Re: Case Number: 24PCE-00203
Property Owner(s) and Interested Parties:
NEXT COMPLIANCE DEADLINE: Tuesday, April 2, 2024, by 5PM. Failure to comply will result in additional enforcement.
Palo Alto Fire Department and Code Enforcement provided a follow-up inspection on Friday March 22, 2024, at 5:00 PM where the following was confirmed:
• Firewatch services are in place and monitoring the building and completing the necessary fire logs which are required to be submitted to PAD on a weekly basis.
• Fire Marshall Jasso identified the emergency path of egress to be provided for inspection on Monday, March 25, 2024.
Palo Alto Fire Department and Code Enforcement provided a follow-up inspection on Monday, March 25, 2024, at 2:00 PM where the following was confirmed:
• All tenants have vacated the 2nd and 3rd floors of all buildings and access has been restricted (No Access Allowed).
• Smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors to units and common occupied spaces by tenants have been installed;
• All deadbolts and paddle lock latches on required exit fire rated exit doorways have been removed. • All unpermitted installed barriers in exit pathways have been removed. • Names and contact information for all tenants has been provided.
Additionally, the City requires the following remedial action for the pool:
1. Provide a list of chemicals used to treat the pool water, test pool water for chlorine levels and provide a strategy/schedule to the undersigned below to drain the pool no later than Friday, March 29, 2024
2. Once the test results and strategy to discharge the water is accepted, the pool must be drained.
COMPLIANCE DEADLINE: Tuesday, April 2, 2024, by 5PM. This inspection is to confirm the draining of all pool water. Failure to comply will result in additional enforcement.
PROCEDURE AND CONSEQUENCES FOR NONCOMPLIANCE
Should the deadlines above expire, a reinspection of the property on or about the date of expiration established above shall occur. If it is determined that the above substandard conditions, or any portion thereof, continue to exist, we may proceed with any combination of the following:
• DECLARATION OF A DANGEROUS BUILDING AND/OR SUBSTANDARD RESIDENTIAL BUILDING - The City may declare the buildings to be dangerous and/or substandard pursuant to PAMC sections 16.40.010 and 020. You may be ordered to repair and/or vacate the building.
• ABATEMENT - The City may order you to abate any and all public nuisances under PAMC Chapter 9.56 and applicable state law.
• FINES - An administrative citation is a fine for a violation of the City of Palo Alto Municipal Code. Citations are issued pursuant to Palo Alto Municipal Code, Chapter 1.12. Fines can increase up to 200% daily. • NOTICE OF PENDENCY - Notices may be recorded for violations against the Subject Property with the County Clerk-Recorder's Office when/if the Chief Building Official determines that a violation of these chapters have occurred. The Chief Building Official may, in their sole discretion, record a notice of pendency of code violation with the Office of the County Recorder identifying the address and owner of the property involved. When the violation has been corrected, the Chief Building Official shall issue and record a release of the notice of pendency of code violation.
INSPECTION VIOLATIONS
Following our inspection, a list of violations have been identified which will require documentation and/or remedy, including:
• Dilapidated Fire Sprinkler & Fire Alarm Systems.
• Unconfirmed Records of Testing for Fire Sprinklers & Fire Alarm Systems. • High Combustible Storage throughout all buildings.
• Improper hazmat storage - Created Corrosive Environments and Conditions. • Severely Corroded electrical and Plumbing systems.
• Combustible Storage in certain areas.
• Plastic film on ceilings in some units and in exit stairways. • Unpermitted remodeling of all units (Includes: Enclosing decks, patios, & roof coverings). • Unpermitted Construction in Electrical (exposed & unsafe wiring)/Mechanical /Plumbing/Structural (Unsafe) & • Non-Structural. (Gazebo structures)
• Potential failure of 2nd Floor exit balcony that appears to be shored for stability. • Dilapidated & Missing emergency Exit Signage and Emergency lighting. • Expired U&O (permitted for R-1, now being used as R-2) • Inoperable elevators (expired certifications)
• Blocked Egress - Stanford Avenue side and throughout buildings. • Non-functioning and missing Egress Exits and components. • POOL - (visible mold underfloor/garage level), hygienically (no County inspections made available at the time of inspection).
The City reserves the right to issue additional or amended Notices or other enforcement actions for the violations listed above.
In addition, City records indicate that this parcel has no records of permits or inspections for the following: Use and Occupancy, Request for Address of 520 Oxford Avenue, Building Permits for remodeling or alterations, Fire Alarm Systems or Sprinklers Permits or Records, and clearances to use pool.
Regarding, this notice, please contact Elisa Vargas at elisa [email protected] or telephone at (650) 885-8565.
Respectfully,
George E. Hoyt, CBO, CCEO
Chief Building Official
City of Palo Alto
CC: Jonathan Lait, Director of Planning & Development Services CC: Tami Jasso, Fire Marshal
CC: Tim Shimizu, Asst. City Attorney
CC: Jennifer Fine, Deputy City Attorney