5 Rico Way, San Francisco, CA 94123

The 5 Rico Way apartment building, located in the Marina neighborhood, is a three-story, 12-unit multi-family residential building constructed in 1927 and currently owned by Hegarty Emmett T Revoc Liv. The building has undergone several significant infrastructure improvements over the years, with the most recent being a fire alarm system upgrade completed in 2024 at a cost of $32,000 to comply with current fire safety requirements. This upgrade included the installation of low-frequency sounders in sleeping areas and modernization of the fire panel and devices.

The building has experienced recurring fire safety system issues, with multiple fire-related complaints and violations between 2023-2024, including problems with sprinklers/standpipes, alarm systems, and extinguishers, though most were promptly corrected. Historical records show major structural improvements in 1992 with the installation of tie beams and shear walls for seismic reinforcement, and more recent maintenance activities including re-roofing projects in 2018 ($34,000) and patio renovations in 2011. The property has a history of false fire alarms and detector malfunctions, with several documented instances of smoke detector activations and alarm system activations that were determined to be unintentional or due to malfunction.

There was a cluster of fire violations in 2001 that were resolved, including issues with fire escape drop ladders and gas utility shutoff tools. Recent maintenance of utility systems includes a new house trap installation in 2020. The building has experienced various exterior maintenance issues as documented in 311 calls, most recently regarding illegal parking instances and some street cleaning matters in 2024. While the property has demonstrated regular upkeep and compliance with most building codes, the recurring nature of fire safety system issues and false alarms suggests ongoing challenges with these particular systems.