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2912 Van Ness Ave

Russian Hill, SF 94109 0478011C 2 units · 3 fl · 1907

This building has a higher-than-average number of open problems nearby. Few open issues; problems get fixed quickly. A reasonable bet for a smooth tenancy.

NOVs (7y) vs. neighborhood
Compared to a typical building in Russian Hill
At or below average
avg 1.9
0
FewerMore

This building has 0 novs (7y), at or below the Russian Hill average of 1.9.

Rent & eviction protection

Is 2912 Van Ness Ave rent-controlled?

San Francisco's Rent Ordinance caps rent increases and provides eviction protection for most residential units built before 1979 with 2+ units. Here's how this building scores.

Built before 1979
Built 1907
2 or more units
2 units
Property type
Multi-Family Residential
Zoning
RM1
Likely rent-controlled. Building age and unit count suggest this property falls under San Francisco's Rent Ordinance.

Based on SF Assessor records. Not legal advice — confirm with the SF Rent Board.

Building characteristics
Units2
Floors3
Year built1907
Total area3,655 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusNone
Blocklot0478011C
Ownership

Registered owner per SF Assessor-Recorder (secured roll).

Owner name
Macdonald Fmly Revoc Tr
Mailing address
Macdonald Brenton E & Sarah 2912 Van Ness Ave San Francisco CA 94109
Last sale
120418

Landlord portfolio

Other SF properties this owner holds, with risk grades for each.

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Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

The three-story, two-unit multi-family residential building at 2912 Van Ness Avenue in Russian Hill, owned by the Macdonald Family Revocable Trust, has undergone several significant renovations and repairs since its construction in 1907. The building underwent substantial rehabilitation work in the early 2000s, including major structural improvements such as a new garage installation in 2002 (completed at $80,000), foundation revisions, and steel beam modifications in 2003. Interior remodeling of the first floor was completed in 2003 for $50,000, followed by subsequent work on the second and third floors, including stair modifications in 2006. The electrical systems received comprehensive updates during this period, with new wiring and sub-panel installations for all units and the garage between 2002 and 2006.

Recent incidents around the property (2024) primarily involve street maintenance issues, including multiple reports of garbage and debris, graffiti on public property, and a damaged tree. There is currently an open report regarding pavement defects from October 2024. The building has experienced four fire department responses in recent years, though none resulted in injuries or significant damage: two smoke/odor-related calls, one smoke detector activation, and one contained cooking fire. The property's planning records indicate a proposal to combine two of the three apartments and modify the garage and curb cut, though this appears to be informational rather than an active project. Recent maintenance calls suggest ongoing attention might be needed for street-level services such as garbage collection and graffiti removal in the immediate area.

AI-generated · may contain errors · check the source data tables below

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Risk rating

How 2912 Van Ness Ave's risk score is calculated

We trained a model on 7 years of SF DBI inspection data — notice of violation filings, complaint history, and owner track records. It estimates the probability that DBI inspectors will issue a Notice of Violation at this address in the next 12 months. Lower % = safer.

What the score means for you

Grade A–B — Low risk

DBI rarely finds violations here. Strong maintenance history and a clean complaint record.

Grade C — Moderate risk

Some past violations or complaints on record. Worth asking the landlord about any open issues before signing.

Grade D–F — High risk

Elevated violation and complaint history. DBI has found issues here before and is statistically likely to again.

Neighborhood percentile
66th percentile

Out of 1133 buildings in this neighborhood, 385 are predicted to be safer.

RiskiestSafest
Predicted 12-month outcome
82%
No DBI
violation
18%
DBI violation
likely
Model explanation

What's driving this score

The three data points that most influenced this building's risk rating — ranked by the weight the model placed on each one.

Neighborhood (ZIP code)

The ZIP code captures local housing market and enforcement patterns that affect all buildings in the area.

Building age

Older buildings tend to have more maintenance challenges; SF's pre-1906 earthquake housing stock carries distinct risk.

Building permits (past 7 years)

Number of permits pulled at this address — construction or renovation activity over 7 years.

12-Month severity forecast
No violation 79.2%
Moderate concern 12.5%
Severe concern 8.3%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months at each severity level. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
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The story over time

2912 Van Ness Ave event timeline

Violations, complaints, fire incidents, permits, and buyouts — most recent records in order.

2026
DBI Complaint Apr 20
Date last observed: 20-apr-26; exact location: main bldg; building type: residence/dwelling other building; ; additional information: address identification is not visible from the street, it’s covered with overgrown vegetation ;
Code Enforcement Section

See all 5 events

Full history back to 2023 — violations, complaints, permits, buyouts, and fire incidents.

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Every record we have

Full data for 2912 Van Ness Ave apartments

13 SF public datasets for this parcel — permits, violations, complaints, fire records, 311 calls, planning records, and buyouts.

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Cancel anytime · Data sourced from SF Open Data, DBI, SFFD, SF Rent Board & Planning

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