The fast-growing Academy of Art is under intense scrutiny by the City of San Francisco for code violations.
The Academy, the largest for-profit art school in the country, was supposed to have completed an environmental study in October 2013 as part of a deal struck with city planning officials. San Francisco's city attorney issued a letter last month criticizing the city's planning department for repeatedly failing to enforce building-code violations.
One of the largest private property owners in San Francisco with about 50 buildings including office buildings, old churches and other properties, the school reached an agreement with the city in spring 2014 over code violations at multiple properties, and agreed to produce an environment impact report. As part of that deal, the Planning Department said it would start to fine the school $5,250 per day for non-compliance on Nov. 1.
The school did not meet the deadline and received an extension. The city attorney said he will call for hearings at the Board of Supervisors if the Academy does not complete its draft environmental report within 60 days of Dec. 29.
Related Stories
| Aug 19, 2013
HUD, New York City collaborate on research center to boost storm resilience
The U.S. Housing and Urban Development Department and New York City will collaborate on a project to create a new research institute and a city-federal park at Jamaica Bay, Queens.
| Aug 16, 2013
Dept. of Homeland Security offers tool to analyze building risk and resilience
The Integrated Rapid Visual Screening tool is designed to determine initial or relative risk and resilience for buildings based on visual inspection only.
| Aug 8, 2013
AAMA releases specification for non-residential fenestration BIM
The American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) released AAMA 912-13, Voluntary Specification for Non-Residential Fenestration Building Information Modeling (BIM).
| Aug 8, 2013
New green property index could boost REIT investment in more sustainable properties
A project by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (NAREIT), the FTSE Group, and the U.S. Green Building Council to jointly develop a Green Property Index could help REITs attract some of the growing pool of socially responsible investment money slated for green investments.
| Aug 8, 2013
Boston reaching for solutions to threat of rising sea levels on waterfront development
While Boston officials consider whether to enact new building codes to resist flooding stemming from climate change-induced rising sea levels, developers are already boosting resiliency on new projects.
| Aug 8, 2013
EPA’s National Stormwater Calculator aids developers
The Environmental Protection Agency has released an application called the National Stormwater Calculator that uses soil conditions and rainfall records to estimate annual rainfall and runoff for any location in the U.S.
| Aug 8, 2013
Bipartisan bill would strengthen model building codes to boost energy efficiency
The Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act, a bipartisan U.S. Senate bill, would strengthen model building codes to make new homes and commercial buildings more energy efficient.
| Aug 2, 2013
Design of world’s tallest wood skyscraper would be more sustainable than steel alternative
Architecture firm C. F. Møller has proposed building the tallest wooden building in the world in Stockholm, Sweden.
| Aug 2, 2013
Texas law expected to help reduce construction payroll fraud
Texas lawmakers want to get tough on construction companies that commit a certain form of payroll fraud, passing a new law recently signed by Gov. Rick Perry.
| Aug 2, 2013
Surveys show parking space requirements far in excess of what is necessary
Officials in the Northwest’s large metropolitan areas have sent survey takers out at night through apartment and condominium lots and garages, recording empty and full spaces, and comparing their tallies with the number of apartments.
