2714-2718 Hyde St, San Francisco, CA 94109

The three-story, multi-family residential building at 2714-2718 Hyde Street in Russian Hill, owned by David B. and Elli S. Ward, was constructed in 1926 and contains three units. The property has undergone several significant changes over the years, most notably a controversial conversion of the ground floor garage into commercial space, which occurred around 2016-2017.

This conversion led to multiple violations, including unapproved construction, electrical work, and safety concerns regarding fire-resistant materials and smoke detectors. The garage-to-retail conversion included the installation of bike storage facilities and related infrastructure, with the property owner obtaining various permits for work valued at approximately $20,000 (including $10,000 for reroofing). The building has been subject to ongoing concerns about unauthorized commercial use, with residents reporting potential illegal short-term rentals of a ground floor unit in late 2019. The property has experienced several regulatory challenges and enforcement actions, including building violations in September 2016 related to accessory use regulations, and multiple complaints about sidewalk obstructions due to merchandise displays between 2019-2020.

The ground floor commercial space has been the subject of various complaints and enforcement actions regarding unauthorized electrical work, pavement modifications, and public space usage. The building's utility infrastructure was upgraded in 2002 to accommodate the commercial conversion, with a 400-amp service upgrade, and multiple permits have been filed for signage related to the Alcatraz bike business. While the property has experienced numerous administrative actions, many of the cited violations were subsequently addressed and marked as closed or abated, including a brief period of illegal short-term rental activity that was allegedly resolved through official intervention. The most recent activity at the property involves standard street maintenance and parking enforcement issues that do not directly relate to the building's structural or occupancy concerns. The property's long timeline of commercial use violations, parking concerns, and regulatory scrutiny suggests a complex history of adapting a residential building to mixed-use conditions, with varying degrees of compliance with municipal regulations.