Residents of a luxurious San Francisco apartment tower that was badly damaged by a 20,000 gallon water leak were told a new delay means they can’t move in again until 2024.
After 17 months of repair, the residents of 33 Tehama – who have been displaced since last summer – were informed that plans for reoccupation have been delayed once again.
More than 400 residents were kicked out of the 35-story tower last June due to a flood caused by a water main failure.
Plans to move back were initially pushed back from last fall to the later half of this year, but on Tuesday, residents received notice that they would not return to the building this year at all.
In an email to the 33 Tehama community obtained by the San Francisco Chronicle, the building owner Hines announced that a ‘final inspection’ of the building by the city was necessary and will occur in December.
The initial leak, on June 3, flooded the apartment with 200,000 gallons of water after a pipeline leaked on the rooftop pool of the high-end San Francisco complex
Entire floors were flooded inside the building, forcing residents to evacuate with little help or communication about what they can do in the meantime
Then, Hines said the building will have ‘more clarity about the return process.’
‘We appreciate your ongoing patience. Please know that we are making every effort to provide as much certainty as possible around schedules and return timing,’ Hines said in the email, obtained by the San Francisco Chronicle.
‘We are focused on preparing for your return and we look forward to welcoming you home.
Last month, more than 50 residents of the luxury apartment announced that they would be suing the building’s owner after they were left Homeless due to two massive leaks from its rooftop pool.
At least 400 tenants were displaced from 33 Tehama, a 35-story apartment complex, following two leaks over the summer that dumped 20,000 gallons of water into the high-end rooms and hallways.
Residents alleged that the building’s owners, Hines, intentionally lied to them about the situation, accusing them of chronic mismanagement and deceit
After the initial leak in June, a second flooding occurred on August 10, when residents were back inside trying to collect their property from the first incident
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The plaintiffs are now demanding Hines, the property’s management company, pay damages to each of them for alleged chronic mismanagement and deceit.
Rohan Mukherji, who was forced to evacuate with his wife, Saba Mirza, claimed Hines intentionally misled residents about when they could return and about the maintenance being performed at the high-rise.
‘It’s a chaos of just the lies and mess that they have either done because they are incompetent and they just don’t know how to deal with these things or they’re trying to just facilitate some fraud,’ Mukherji told ABC 7.
According to the lawsuit, residents were startled by alarms on June 3 ordering them to evacuate after a pipe burst from the rooftop pool, causing water to gush throughout the building.
The residents, who paid between $1,400 to $6,000 in monthly rent, claimed that Hines failed to adequately tell them where they could shelter in the meantime or how long the maintenance would last.
The lawsuit states that Hines booked two downtown hotels on the night of the flood, but residents said the temporary stay only lasted two days without any word on what they should do next.
‘They basically told us, you can’t come back in and we don’t know when you can come back in,’ Mirza told ABC 7.
The problems at 33 Tehama only escalated after a second leak occurred from the same water pipe on August 10, while some tenants were in the building trying to retrieve their property.
Following the floods, Hines said the building would not be habitable until 2023 and that the company would cease all aid being provided to the residents.
The plaintiffs said they were essentially being left ‘high and dry, with many of them maxing out credit cards and their savings just to survive, while others were ‘on the brink of homelessness.’
More than 50 of the displaced residents from 33 Tehama, a 35-story luxury apartment complex, are suing the owner after two massive leaks over the summer
Hines denies all allegations and said the apartment is uninhabitable until 2023
Security footage from inside one of the resident’s rooms allegedly shows contractors rummaging through their properties and stealing belongings
In a statement regarding the lawsuit, Hines said: Since the water intrusion incident in June, our staff has worked around the clock to assist the displaced residents with emergency and permanent relocation options.
‘We have provided our residents with temporary housing and funds for personal expenses. We have also worked tirelessly to repair the building, engaging leading experts to identify and address the building’s mechanical problems.
‘We deny the allegations pled in this complaint and we believe that during the course of pretrial discovery, the court and the public will understand the true extent of our efforts to help those that had to leave their homes during these unfortunate and unforeseen events.’
The complaint against Hine’s ultimately alleges that the company ‘not only acted negligently in maintaining the building but also knew that there was a problem before the June 2022 leak occurred and kept it hidden.’
Residents claim that a city building inspector had issued a notice of violation against Hines for trying to fix the pipes without permits prior to the leaks.
The company has denied the allegations, saying ”all work currently being performed is under a permit issued by the city.’
The San Francisco Department of Building Inspection did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com’s request for comment.
Along with the complaints against the company, residents also shared their outrage over apparent mismanagement when video footage on one of their security cameras allegedly showed contractors stealing from the damaged apartments.
Attorney Nazy Fahimi, who is representing some of the plaintiffs, claimed Hines consistently misled residents and failed to provide proper answers
Stephanie Sunwoo, whose apartment was shown in the footage, said her checkbook had been stolen, with two fraudulent checks cashed.
‘So now I kind of have this impending fear of identity theft and my bank information is out there on the loose,’ she told ABC 7 as she cried over her situation.
The 35-story apartment complex first opened in 2018, offering a luxury experience through co-working spaces, a spa, game room, a gym and an optional butler service to complete chores for residents.
’33 Tehama is marketed as the epitome of luxury, but instead is a tenant’s worst nightmare,’ reads the lawsuit.
Attorney Nazy Fahimi, who is representing some of the plaintiffs, condemned Hines for allegedly creating this nightmare and leaving residents with little answers and alternatives.
‘There’s a consistent theme where they weren’t getting answers. Where they were left essentially in a lurch,’ Fahimi told ABC.