814 California St, San Francisco, CA 94108

The 21-unit, 3-story apartment building at 814 California St in Nob Hill, constructed in 1913, has undergone significant modernization and maintenance over recent years, particularly focusing on unit upgrades and safety systems. Most notably, between 2019 and 2021, the property completed comprehensive washer/dryer installation and replacement projects in multiple units (3, 5, 14, 15, 17, 19, and 21), along with bathroom and kitchen remodels in select units, with associated costs ranging from $5,000 to $36,000 per project.

A critical infrastructure improvement was the $40,000 upgrade to the fire alarm system in 2019 to comply with SFBC requirements, followed by the installation of new tankless water heaters and one storage tank. The building's safety record shows attention to both fire safety and structural integrity, including the replacement of a fire sprinkler backflow system in 2022 and successful completion of Tier 2 soft-story seismic retrofitting. While there were several building code violations noted in 2008 related to a foundation crack and in 2012 for various maintenance issues (including electrical conduit repair, garbage area sanitation, and others), these were all resolved by May 2012.

Recent inspections and complaints have been relatively minimal, with some minor issues in 2021 (kitchen power and construction-related smoke) and occasional concerns about garbage and debris on the premises. The property has experienced multiple fire system-related false alarms and malfunctions over the years, but no serious fire incidents have been recorded, and all related violations have been promptly addressed. Recent 2024 fire safety violations regarding the alarm system and UL certification were issued but are currently under review through the hearing process.