431 Octavia St, San Francisco, CA 94102

The 15-unit multi-family residential building at 431 Octavia St in Hayes Valley, owned by Steven Kovacs Living Trust, has undergone significant improvements since its construction in 1926. The building completed its mandatory Soft Story retrofit in 2016 (cost: $89,000), and subsequently made substantial safety upgrades including a new ground floor fire sprinkler system (2017 - $23,772), cellular communication and sprinkler monitoring system (2018 - $8,000), and fire escape repairs (2021 - $4,500). Unit 5 received extensive renovations in 2021 including kitchen and bathroom upgrades, electrical work, and furnace replacement (totaling $20,000).

The building's maintenance history shows regular attention to structural integrity, with documented repairs to staircases (1987, 2008), including a voluntary structural strengthening project in 2011. In 2003, the property upgraded its electrical service to 400 amps with an underground installation. While there were multiple building violations in 2008 related to fire safety, security, and plumbing systems, all were promptly addressed by December 2008.

Recent inspections have shown recurring issues with fire safety systems, including fire extinguishers (2021), fire escape (2019), and exit maintenance (2018), though these were generally resolved. The property has experienced ongoing challenges with street cleanliness, as evidenced by multiple 311 calls in late 2024 and early 2025 regarding garbage and debris, including instances of human waste. A proposal to convert garage spaces to residential units was submitted but withdrawn in 2022.