Court fight looms over Napa’s downtown eyesore from 2014 earthquake

The Center Building, a two-story office structure at Third and Brown streets in downtown Napa, has long stood as a stark reminder of the South Napa Earthquake’s destruction. Located across from the historic courthouse, the building has remained red-tagged as unsafe to enter since the 2014 quake.

That chapter may soon close. On Thursday, the city of Napa filed a petition in Napa County Superior Court to place the building into receivership, citing nearly two decades of code violations and deteriorating conditions. Under receivership, a court-appointed entity would take control of the property and carry out a plan to correct violations.

According to the city’s filing, the buildingcurrently violates 51 sections of local, state and international property maintenance, fire and electric codes, as well as city health codes. Despite repeated warnings, owners Brian and Diane Silver have failed to address the violations, prompting legal action.

“Extensive efforts by the city to gain voluntary compliance with respect to abatement of these violations have been unsuccessful,” the petition says. It adds that the structure poses a “substantial danger and imminent threat to the health, safety and life of any occupants or resident.”

The city first issued a notice to abate — to remedy the code violations — June 11, 2024, warning that failure to comply by Oct. 9, 2024, would result in enforcement action. The petition alleges that while Silver expressed interest in demolishing the building during a meeting with city staff Sept. 30, 2024, an agreement to proceed fell apart after months of negotiation. Though the owners applied for a demolition permit Nov. 12, 2024, they have yet to submit the necessary information for its approval.

Brian Silver didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment on the matter. City spokesperson Jaina French said the city does not comment on pending legal matters and so can’t currently provide any additional information.

A history of neglect

The Center Building’s structural issues trace back nearly two decades. In 2005, Napa’s City Council enacted an ordinance requiring mandatory earthquake retrofits for unreinforced masonry buildings. Silver protested, arguing the expense was unfeasible and the risk overstated.

In 2006, the city ordered Silver to correct structural deficiencies in the building’s masonry walls. A second order followed in 2008 after Silver failed to comply. By 2014, the South Napa Earthquake had further weakened the building’s integrity, prompting a new wave of city enforcement efforts.

The city opened its current code enforcement case in May 2015 after complaints about the building’s unsafe condition. That year, the owners submitted plans to demolish most of the building while preserving its historic facade. The city approved the project in 2016 but required stabilization and safety improvements. Inspections in 2016, 2018 and 2023 revealed the violations persisted.

“All of the violations observed during the previous inspections still exist and constitute extremely dangerous substandard building violations,” the city wrote in its petition.

With no resolution in sight, Napa officials are now asking the court to appoint a receiver to take control of the property and ensure compliance. They are also seeking reimbursement for legal fees and enforcement costs.

If granted, the petition would mark a significant step toward resolving the nearly two-decade saga of the Center Building.

You can reach Staff Writer Edward Booth at 707-521-5281 or [email protected].