950 Bay St, San Francisco, CA 94109

The 18-unit, 1926 building at 950 Bay Street in Russian Hill, owned by the Herman Wendel Revocable Trust, has undergone significant renovations and faced several regulatory challenges in recent years. Most notably, the property completed mandatory seismic retrofitting as a Tier 2 soft-story building, with work officially marked as complete and receiving its CFC issuance.

The building has seen substantial unit improvements, with multiple apartments receiving kitchen and bathroom remodels, including Units 4, 9, 10, 17, and 18, typically involving cabinets, sinks, tub surrounds, and electrical upgrades. Recent violations and complaints have raised concerns about safety and compliance, including a December 2023 open violation regarding sleeping area requirements and an earlier set of complaints in 2018 regarding unauthorized work, including unpermitted electrical and heating system modifications.

The property has experienced recurring issues with its fire alarm system, with multiple complaints between 2010-2023, though most were marked as "Condition Corrected." Additionally, there was a significant compliance issue in 2016 regarding soft-story retrofit requirements that resulted in violations, though these were eventually resolved through proper permitting. The building's recent maintenance history shows attention to infrastructure, including a main water service line replacement in 2017 and ongoing unit improvements, though some work has generated tenant complaints about proper permitting procedures. While the building has experienced various maintenance issues, including plumbing concerns and exterior maintenance needs, most recent complaints have focused on fire safety systems and unauthorized work rather than major structural or safety concerns.