1200-1208 Mason St, San Francisco, CA 94108

The 26-unit, 4-story apartment building at 1200-1208 Mason Street in Nob Hill, owned by Chinese Community Housing Corp, was built in 1909 and has undergone significant renovations and maintenance work over the past decade. Most notably, the building completed a $7.6 million affordable rehabilitation project in 2020 that included comprehensive interior updates to 24 units, new fire safety systems, and solar thermal water heating improvements. Recent improvements include the installation of a chairlift for handicap access in 2024, fire safety system upgrades in 2022, and compliance work such as sound level verification in sleeping areas in 2023.

The building's soft-story retrofit has been completed, bringing it into compliance with seismic safety requirements. The property has experienced several maintenance and safety issues that have been addressed over time. There was a significant fire incident in 2017 at one unit, though no civilian injuries were reported. Recent fire safety violations have been documented, including issues with sleeping area requirements (November 2023) and alarm system maintenance (June 2019).

The building has had periodic issues with the fire alarm and sprinkler systems between 2017 and 2024, though most have been corrected promptly. In 2023-2024, there were complaints about construction work at the Gallery Cafe retail space, with allegations of work being performed without proper permits and outside of allowed hours, though these complaints have since been resolved. The building's maintenance history shows regular updates to critical systems, including plumbing (with multiple repairs and replacements of water heaters, boilers, and piping systems), electrical improvements, and fire safety system upgrades. The property has maintained active compliance with fire safety requirements, though certain violations have required correction following inspections.