Proposed Soft Story Retrofit Program
Rules Committee 01/26/2023
Background ▷ A “soft story” is defined as any unit built over an open carport, on columns, ora
garage where the opening is at least
75% of the wall length
▷ Soft stories are particularly vulnerable to
severe damage and collapse during an
earthquake.
▷ City performed an extensive soft story
survey in 2007 and compileda detailed
inventory identifying 368 buildings,
comprised of4,016 total dwelling units.
2 Background
▷ Hayward Fault has a 31.7% chance of rupturing in a 6.7 magnitude earthquake or greater and the Bay Area has a 63% chance of having at least a magnitude 6.7 earthquake in the next 26 years. ▷ Displacement, injury, and death of occupants could be in the hundreds, resulting in an increased burden on local emergency services, hospitals, local shelters, etc.
3 Soft Story Locations in San Leandro
(green = liquefaction areas, solid red
line=Hayward Fault)
4 Comparables:
▷ We will be studying three comparable, neighboring cities with existing soft story programs
○ Alameda
○ Berkeley
○ Hayward
5 City of Alameda Soft Story Program
▷ Program created in March 2009, updated in 2015. The City of Alameda identified approximately 300 buildings containing over 3,000 units.
▷ Affects properties of wood frame construction and permitted before December 17, 1985. Ground level containing large openings such as storefronts, garages, or tuck-under parking ▷ Five or more dwelling units.
▷ Owner must have a seismic evaluation by an engineer within 18 months
6 City of Alameda Soft Story Program
▷ City offered incentives for owners to submit building permits for retrofit plans:
○ A 15-year exemption from a new potentially hazardous
designation.
○ Reports submitted early and to begin work within 18
months of the notification. The City waived all plan
review and inspection fees.
7 City of Berkeley
▷ Program created in 2001. The City of Berkeley identified 400 buildings containing nearly 5,000 units.
▷ Similar to Alameda, affects properties of wood frame
construction and permitted before the adoption of the
1997 Uniform Building Code. Ground level containing
large openings such as store fronts, garages or tuckunder parking. ▷ Five or more dwelling units.
8 City of Berkeley
▷ Owner must have a seismic evaluation by an engineer within 2 years of Notice and Order.
▷ Berkely has several stand-out “Deadline Accelerators”:
o Any alteration, addition, or remodel with a valuation over $75,000.00 will trigger retrofit.
o Sale or transfer of title, with exceptions.
o Re-finance, with exceptions.
▷ The only incentive offered:
○ A 15-year exemption from a new potentially hazardous
designation.
9 City Of Hayward
▷ Program created in July 2019. The city identified
approximately 300 buildings.
▷ Similar to Alameda, affects properties of wood frame
construction and permitted Before January 1, 1979.
Ground level containing large openings such as
storefronts, garages, or tuck-under parking. Three or
more dwelling units.
10 Next Steps:
▷ City Council has allocated $100,000 in Federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to develop a soft story program
▷ Hire an experienced consultant by Summer 2023 to
assist in developing and implementing a program,
assessing fiscal/staffing impacts & preparing a public
outreach plan with affected property owners
▷ Draft program by Winter 2023/2024 for presentation to Rules Committee and/or City Council
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