55 Bret Harte Ter, San Francisco, CA 94133

The three-story, five-unit apartment building at 55 Bret Harte Terrace in Russian Hill, owned by Lew James and Ella Tom-lew, has a history dating back to its 1949 construction. Notable improvements include a reroofing project completed in 2008 ($4,500), the installation of dual-glazed vinyl windows in 1997, and several interior renovations in 1988 including a kitchen remodel and hardwood floor installation.

The building underwent significant fire safety upgrades in 2002, including the installation of sprinklers in parking garages, following multiple fire safety violations noted in 2001 regarding combustible storage, fire extinguishers, and handrail requirements, all of which were abated by June 2002. Recent history shows relatively few major building-specific issues, though there have been some ongoing maintenance and safety matters in the surrounding area.

The building has experienced three minor fire incidents, all with no civilian injuries reported: a malfunctioning smoke detector activation, a wiring-related heat incident, and a contained cooking fire. Regular housing inspections have occurred throughout the years, with routine inspections in 1997, 2001, 2006, and 2008, plus a 2004 complaint regarding potential ventilation concerns between units and the garage. More recent activity consists primarily of external maintenance and neighborhood issues, including multiple parking enforcement calls and street cleaning requests in 2023-2024.