San Francisco’s Department of Building Inspection (DBI) is currently investigating Elon Musk’s Twitter headquarters after a large X sign was installed on the roof without permission. The DBI has stated that approval from the planning commission and a building permit are required to ensure structural safety.
The X sign, constructed from thin black metal resembling scaffolding, appears relatively small on the roof of the historic building. On Friday afternoon, a piece of fabric attached to one side of the X could be seen flapping in the wind. However, the sign was not easily visible from the south side of Market Street where the building is located. Only passersby on the north side of the street, where the sign was visible, seemed to take any notice of it, with some only glancing up after spotting a news camera focused on the sign.
Interestingly, what attracted more attention were the remnants of the original Twitter sign on the side of the building. On one side, the letters had been removed, leaving behind a gray outline made of the metal used to support them. On the side facing Market Street, only the letter ‘r’ had been taken away, while the third side remained intact.
The X offices lease the space from Shorenstein and JPMorgan Chase, who own the property. However, last week, building management called the police when they discovered workers removing the sign without their knowledge. It is worth noting that a permit from the city is not required to remove letters, but it is necessary to change them, according to the DBI. Twitter, as the tenant, would also need permission from the landlord to make any alterations to the sign. It is currently unclear whether the company has obtained such permission.
The DBI will continue to investigate the matter to ensure that all necessary permits are obtained and that the sign is compliant with safety regulations. In the meantime, Elon Musk’s Twitter headquarters will have to navigate this unexpected regulatory hurdle.
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Reach Danielle Echeverria – email: [email protected], Twitter: @DanielleEchev