December 2016
Tenants Flocked to Oakland Warehouse, Scene of Fire, for Low Rents
Skyrocketing Bay Area rents have forced artists to look for nontraditional forms of housing
“It’s extremely hard for artists,” said Mr. Avalos, who paid $565 a month for space on the warehouse floor that was big enough for an RV, a workspace and a loft with a bed and desk. “Even if you’re not an artist, it’s impossible to find housing.”
Before the fire, the city of Oakland was aware of problems with the space. City officials had recently opened an investigation into the warehouse after complaints were made about blight and unpermitted construction, said Darin Ranelletti, who heads the city’s planning department.
According to city documents, an inspector visited the property on Nov. 17, “and verified the blight complaint, but could not gain access to the building.”
Marc Branco, a Bay Area attorney who represents landlords and tenants, including Mr. Almena’s co-tenant in that case, said that the city of Oakland often “turns a blind eye” to the living conditions in warehouses “because they’re overwhelmed.”
“A lot of times, they’ll go look at a property, and they’ll turn a blind eye because they don’t want to deal with it,” he said.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/tenants-flocked-to-oakland-warehouse-scene-of-fire-for-low-rents-1480979863
