Friday’s tragic fire exposed a widespread problem that Oakland residents have been complaining about for years. The artist warehouse is currently under investigation for potential housing and building code violations.
But records obtained by the NBC Bay Area Investigative Unit revealed these converted dwellings are creating a safety hazard throughout the city.
Enforcement data from the Oakland City Planning and Building Department shows nearly 6,000 complaints since 2014 for “Housing Habitability” and poor living conditions.
City records show that more than 900 of those investigations are still pending. Some of those potential violations include commercial buildings that were illegally converted for housing, buildings with no electricity, and not enough emergency exits.
Pictures and witness accounts from the scene of Friday’s fire show the art collective was cluttered with wooden furniture and lacked smoke detectors with only two exits.
The city declined to answer NBC Bay Area’s questions on the status of their pending investigations, referring all communications to the mayor’s office. At a news conference Monday afternoon, Mayor Libby Schaaf told reporters she is also searching for answers in the wake of Friday’s tragedy.
“What [can we] learn from this incident, how we can improve our effectiveness, how we can create a greater feeling of safety in every aspect for the residents of this city.” Schaaf said.
Local
NBC Bay Area’s review showed that hundreds of addresses received several habitability complaints, including the location of Friday’s fire, which was already under investigation prior to the Friday for having what inspectors described as an illegal building structure inside. It is unclear whether that complaint is related to the makeshift stairwell that firefighters now blame for trapping victims inside since it was narrow and difficult to pass through.
Activity Zoning Complaint: Includes complaints of illegal activity in zoned areas (i.e. operating a business at a residence, live entertainment w/o permit, noise complaints)
Enforcement Complaint: Category used for enforcement complaints prior to 2015
Fire Department Inspection: Includes code violations observed by fire inspectors like poor exhaust, and improper instillations
Housing Habitability Complaint: Complaints pertaining to poor and inhabitable living conditions (i.e. unapproved housing additions, electrical wiring issues, poor maintenance)
Zoning Complaint: Includes complaints for construction, modifications and use without zoning approvals, (i.e. living in commercial buildings, unapproved storage)
*Map does not include pending investigations
Source: Oakland Planning and Building Department
______________________________________
Need to contact our Investigative Unit?
• You can remain anonymous
• 1-888-996-TIPS
______________________________________
Watch our investigative series on the Oakland warehouse fire:
- Oakland Venue Was Under Investigation Before Deadly Fire
- Family of Woman Who Owns Oakland Warehouse Sends Condolences
- Oakland Warehouse 'Looks Very Bad,' Stairwell Unsafe
- Oakland Artists Fear Fire Fallout Will Impact Their Lives
- Owner Knew of 'Hazardous Conditions' Around Warehouse
- Conflicting Laws Enable Artist Colonies in Warehouses
- Illegal Housing Conversions in Oakland Widespread
- Oakland Leaders Call for Probe Into Illegal Live-Work Spaces
- Legal Battle Brewing Over Who Is Accountable for Oakland Fire
- Oakland Paying Exec. $500/Hr to Run Public Relations After Warehouse Fire
