1296-1298 Union St, San Francisco, CA 94109

The property at 1296-1298 Union Street in Russian Hill is a two-unit, two-story multi-family residential building with commercial space, built in 1908 and owned by Larry P. Wong and Mei Lai. The building has a significant history of violations related to an apparently abandoned commercial storefront, with the most recent active violation filed in September 2024 regarding non-compliance with the Vacant or Abandoned Commercial Storefront Ordinance.

Previous complaints about the storefront date back to 2020, with multiple violations occurring throughout 2022-2023 that were abated but suggest ongoing issues with building maintenance and occupancy. The commercial space has been described as filled with debris, potentially presenting fire safety hazards, and there have been prior concerns about the awning condition in 2011 and lead paint violations in 2014. The building has documented fire safety concerns, with multiple violations recorded between 2010-2017 related to combustible materials, blocked exits, and hazardous materials, though most of these were corrected promptly. There were two documented fire incidents: one involving malfunctioning smoke detectors and another related to a contained cooking fire, neither resulting in civilian injuries.

The property has undergone minimal construction work in recent decades, with records showing only a reroofing project completed in 1992 and a street space permit issued in 2014. Recent 311 calls in late 2024 have primarily concerned sidewalk cleaning and graffiti, while planning records indicate a past illegal short-term rental operation that was subsequently closed. The building's commercial space appears to be the primary focus of most complaints and violations, while the residential portion has fewer documented issues. The property's recent history suggests ongoing challenges with building maintenance, storefront occupancy compliance, and fire safety concerns, though many violations have been abated.