1944-1948 Buchanan St, San Francisco, CA 94115

The three-unit multi-family residential building at 1944-1948 Buchanan Street in Lower Pacific Heights, owned by Sivananthan Sureshan, has experienced several significant maintenance and safety issues since its construction in 1904. Most recently, in March 2021, there was a concerning incident involving unauthorized garage habitation with an extension cord connection from the top floor, representing a potential fire hazard. The building has a documented history of water-related issues, including a 2007 sewage leak incident and multiple hot water capacity violations in 2015.

Between 2015 and 2019, several safety concerns emerged, including fire safety violations (missing fire extinguishers and smoke alarms), structural issues with rotted trellises, and problems with interior surfaces such as a non-functioning doorbell. A notable health concern was reported in October 2018 regarding mold in one of the units. The building's maintenance history shows various repair attempts, including kitchen remodels in the 1980s and more recent streetspace work in 2014, though some permits from the 1980s are listed as expired.

The property has been the subject of numerous 311 calls between 2022 and 2024, primarily related to parking enforcement for driveway blocking incidents, with multiple citations issued. There have been several requests for service from the Bureau of Street Environmental Services and Recology, though most recent inspections and service requests have not revealed any significant ongoing issues. The building's permit history shows some investment in maintenance and improvements over the years, though the age of many repairs suggests ongoing maintenance needs. The most pressing historical concerns relate to water systems, fire safety equipment, and structural maintenance, though many of these violations were officially abated between 2015 and 2016, suggesting remedial actions were taken at that time.