1600-1604 Vallejo St, San Francisco, CA 94123

The three-story, 11-unit apartment building at 1600-1604 Vallejo Street in Pacific Heights, constructed in 1916, has undergone significant seismic safety improvements in recent years. The building retrofitted as a "soft-story" structure in 2018, with approximately $120,000 invested in both commercial and residential upgrades to comply with San Francisco's seismic requirements. Most recently, in 2023, the fire alarm system received a substantial upgrade, installing low-frequency horns and replacing existing bells with horn strobes, plus implementing modern communication features.

This followed an earlier period in 2022 marked by multiple tenant complaints regarding construction impacts, including construction dust, odor issues, and concerns about unit conditions such as sloped floors in Unit 3. Several fire code violations were noted in October 2023 related to alarm system maintenance, fire escape maintenance, combustibles storage, non-conforming door hardware, and exit pathways; however, all of these violations were subsequently abated. The building has faced various maintenance and habitability challenges over the years, particularly between 2016-2017, when there were multiple complaints regarding pest infestations, ventilation issues, and plumbing problems. Earlier historical violations from 2002 and 2012 included problems with fire safety systems, drainage pipes, wood stairs, and other building components, though these were all resolved.

The property has experienced periodic issues with maintenance and building systems, as evidenced by multiple 311 calls in recent months (2024) regarding various street and sidewalk concerns, primarily related to garbage and debris. Notably, the building's fire safety systems have historically required attention, with several fire incidents recorded (primarily false alarms and smoke detector activations) but no civilian injuries reported. The most recent fire violations from October 2023 suggest ongoing attention to fire safety compliance, though these were promptly addressed. It should be noted that the building is currently listed as "Non-Compliant" under Tier 4 of San Francisco's Soft Story program, indicating potential outstanding seismic compliance issues, despite the previous retrofit work completed.