550-560 Powell St, San Francisco, CA 94108

This 6-story, 29-unit multi-family residential building located at 550-560 Powell Street in Union Square, constructed in 1911, is owned by 560 Powell Street LLC and currently houses Academy of Art University students. The property has undergone several significant infrastructure upgrades in recent years, including a major elevator replacement in 2021 ($100,000) due to a previous failure, followed by an elevator control and fire alarm system modernization ($110,000) completed in 2021-2022.

The building has a documented history of fire safety concerns, with multiple violations recorded between 2018-2022, including blocked exits and various fire code violations, though most of these issues were promptly corrected upon inspection. A substantial number of building improvements and maintenance work has been carried out over the years, including plumbing upgrades (backflow preventer installation in 2010, hot water boiler installation in 2013), electrical work, and various repairs to the ground floor commercial spaces. The building's history includes several tenant buyouts in early 2023 for units at 450 Powell Street, with buyout amounts ranging from $14,000 to $41,000 per unit.

Planning records indicate a controversial conversion of 25 units to student housing for Academy of Art University, which was approved to comply with current planning codes. The property has experienced recurring issues with garbage overflow, lighting, and pavement defects in recent months, as evidenced by multiple 311 calls, though many of these are external to the building itself. The building's management has generally responded to violations and complaints in a timely manner, with most cases being resolved or abated, though there are some ongoing concerns related to noise and street maintenance based on the latest 311 reports.