Civic Center Tenants Demand Seismic Retrofit on Earthquake AnniversaryRita Mandelenisbyline‚ Apr. 19‚ 2006As the city held a variety of ceremonies commemorating the disasters that resulted from great quake of 1906, a group of activists staged a ‘die-in’ to dramatize a looming disaster that could happen should another quake occur. Lying amidst a variety of fake bricks and other rubble, the protestors demanded the 156-unit Civic Center SRO Hotel be seismically retrofitted immediately. The was supposed to be retrofitted two months ago, but the owners – Plumbers Union Local 38 - have yet to file for permits to begin work. The Civic Center is currently classified as a Risk Level 4 Unreinforced Masonry Building, meaning that the building is made from brick, was constructed before 1933, and in a large earthquake will probably collapse upon the people inside. |