447-453 Ofarrell St, San Francisco, CA 94102

The five-story, 31-unit apartment building at 447-453 O'Farrell Street, built in 1912, has experienced several significant improvements and challenges in recent years. Most notably, there have been ongoing fire safety system upgrades, including a completed $53,000 fire alarm system upgrade in September 2024 following a previous cancelled attempt in July 2023, and the installation of new wireless low-frequency sounders and smoke detectors in common areas.

The building has also undergone various unit-specific improvements, including recent bathroom renovation work in Unit #505 (completed October 2024), and significant upgrades in Units 301, 304, and 207 between 2019 and 2022 involving kitchen and bathroom renovations, washer/dryer installations, and general unit improvements. The property has faced recurring elevator issues, with multiple complaints about non-functioning service between 2013-2014, and ongoing fire safety compliance matters, as evidenced by recent fire violations regarding alarm system maintenance and sleeping area requirements from late 2023.

Historical records show a significant fire incident in 2001 affecting multiple units, though this was abated by 2002. Recent tenant concerns have included construction impacts on senior residents in 2012 and various maintenance matters, though many issues have been addressed through proper permits and repairs. The building's commercial space has undergone transitions as well, including a 2021 conversion from limited restaurant use to general grocery sales with ADA compliance improvements, and multiple fire alarm system violations have been issued and subsequently corrected between 2024-2025, indicating ongoing attention to safety systems.