SAN FRANCISCO, April 19 (UPI) -- San Francisco has adopted a new law that requires owners to retrofit thousands of apartment buildings that are at risk for severe damage from earthquakes.
The Los Angeles Times said some of the most extensive damage and loss of life from recent earthquakes has occurred in apartments that sit on atop ground-level storefronts or parking garages.
Structural engineers have warned the structures, which have a wooden frame, face a risk of collapse during an earthquake.
But until Thursday, efforts at passing the legislation failed as owners opposed the high costs of the construction. City officials said the cost of the retrofitting is expected to be $60,000 to $130,000 per building.
The measure passed the council with an 11-0 vote, and Mayor Ed Lee signed the bill into law Thursday.
"In order to be a truly resilient city, we must protect our residents and make sure their homes are safe." Lee told reporters Thursday as he signed the ordinance into law.
More than 55,000 San Francisco residents live in the buildings targeted by the new ordinance.
