Academy of Art in San Francisco under fire for code violations

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.

(http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/blog/real-estate/2015/01/city-attorney-pressures-s-f-to-enforce-code.html?page=all)

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