851 Ofarrell St, San Francisco, CA 94109

The 27-unit, four-story apartment building at 851 Ofarrell Street, owned by Ofarrell Associates LLC and constructed in 1908, is located in San Francisco's Tenderloin neighborhood. The property has undergone several significant modifications in recent years, including a voluntary seismic upgrade in 2019 costing $165,000, and the controversial addition of 4 ADUs at the ground level completed in 2018-2019, which required changes to the Olive Street façade. The building has a concerning history of maintenance and safety issues, with multiple active violations from 2017 including problems with fire safety systems, mold, spalling concrete, walls and ceiling repairs, elevator certification, and appliance issues.

More recent issues include a creaking floor complaint from January 2025 and recurring fire safety violations, with the most recent violations in 2024 related to standpipes and maintenance of safeguards. The building's history shows notable plumbing and electrical work, including kitchen renovations in 2009 and common area improvements in 2017, along with various elevator and utility maintenance concerns. Security measures have been periodically addressed, with a new security front door installed in 1989. The property has experienced several infrastructure challenges over the years, including a significant plumbing incident in 2014 involving hot water outages and leaks affecting multiple units, and various elevator malfunction complaints.

Fire safety has been a persistent concern, with multiple violations and complaints regarding sprinkler systems, fire extinguishers, and blocked exits recorded between 2018 and 2024. The building has also experienced several emergency responses by fire services, primarily related to false alarms, carbon monoxide detector activations, and one gas leak incident, though fortunately none resulted in civilian injuries. Recent 311 calls from January 2025 indicate ongoing issues with building maintenance in the surrounding area, including reports of graffiti and garbage. The property's management has initiated various repairs and upgrades over the years, including addressing fire safety concerns through door repairs and fire sprinkler installations, though many violations from 2017 remain unresolved, with a director hearing scheduled in October 2019 for multiple active violations.