Repeated official visits to Ghost Ship never resulted in shutdown

Evidence mounted Monday that an array of Oakland and Alameda County agencies had looked into complaints of conditions and confrontations at the converted warehouse where at least 36 people died in a fire at an electronic music show, but none of the contacts resulted in a shutdown order for a building that allegedly had been illegally converted to live-work space.

Oakland officials have said city building inspectors went to the warehouse Nov. 17 to investigate complaints of trash heaped in the yard and sidewalk and illegal housing units in the building.

[...] on June 4, inspectors responded to complaints of trash, construction debris and rodents at the building, known as the Ghost Ship, at 31st Avenue and International Boulevard.

[...] twice in 2014, inspectors were called to look into illegal activity or nuisances at the building — once for “constructing house/structure without permits” and once for blocking the sidewalk with pallets and construction debris.

In no instance did the city act to close down a building that former residents have described as a warren of wooden structures, studios with statues, artwork, hanging rugs and other eclectic stuff strewn about.

Propane tanks were used to heat an improvised shower, exposed electrical wires covered a back staircase and generators supported an ever-changing cast of guests and residents, some of them living in recreational vehicles parked in the warehouse.

City Councilman Noel Gallo, whose district includes the converted warehouse, said, “There’s no real explanation why we could not get a response.”

The Oakland Police Department learned in early January 2015 that a New Year’s Eve party had been held in the building, which officials say had permits for use only as a warehouse.

Police reports show that on Jan. 2 of that year, officers Josue Mora and Richard Keane went to the Ghost Ship to follow up on an allegation that Derick Ion Almena, the head of the artists collective that had taken up residence there, had argued with a performer at the party and had stolen the cell phone of one of the performer’s friends.

A third officer, Kevin Godchaux, took statements from the performer and his friend and knew about the party, his incident report shows.

Former resident Shelley Mack, who lived at the warehouse from October 2014 to February 2015, said the law enforcement reports represent only a fraction of the instances police were called to the Ghost Ship.