535-545 Birch St, San Francisco, CA 94102

The three-story, six-unit apartment building at 535-545 Birch Street in Hayes Valley has undergone several significant safety improvements since its construction in 1900. Most notably, the building completed a $90,000 soft-story retrofit in 2017 to enhance seismic safety, achieving compliance with San Francisco's mandatory requirements. The building's maintenance history reveals recurring concerns with stair safety, as evidenced by multiple building violations and permits related to staircase repairs in 2006 and 2009, though these issues were resolved by March 2010.

A more recent plumbing improvement was made in 2021 with the installation of a new gas line for a water heater and range, demonstrating ongoing infrastructure maintenance. The building has experienced various habitability issues over its history, most notably in 2014 when residents reported problems with heat and pest control. Historical complaints from 1996 and 1997 documented sewage backup and heating problems, including one concerning water-damaged carpeting and odor issues that took nearly a decade to resolve.

Regular routine safety inspections have been conducted, with the most recent occurring in 2018. The property has also faced multiple fire safety compliance requirements, including fire extinguisher inspections and gas utility safety improvements, all of which were addressed and abated. Recent external incidents primarily involve street parking violations and sidewalk maintenance issues, as recorded in 311 calls throughout 2024, though these are not directly related to building safety or habitability.