550 Buchanan St, San Francisco, CA 94102

The 6-unit, 3-story apartment building at 550 Buchanan Street in Hayes Valley, owned by Szeto & Szeto Trust, was constructed in 1913 and has undergone significant renovations and faced several maintenance challenges over the years. Most notably, the building completed its mandatory soft-story retrofit in 2019, which included slab leveling work valued at $20,000, bringing it into compliance with San Francisco's seismic safety requirements.

Multiple renovation projects have occurred, including the 2015 remodeling of Apartment #3 (kitchen and bathroom renovation with new laundry hookups) and similar improvements in Apartments #4 and #6 in 2014. The building has experienced recurring boiler permit issues, with five separate complaints about unpermitted operation between 2009 and 2021, though all were eventually resolved. Recent concerns have centered around building systems and maintenance, particularly the gutter and downspout issues reported in 2023, which involved disconnection problems and improper positioning affecting neighboring properties.

The building has a history of fire alarm system malfunctions, with several false alarms recorded, though no injuries were reported. Other notable past issues include kitchen ventilation concerns related to Apartments #4 and #6 in 2015, back stairs deterioration in 2015, and multiple plumbing and electrical violations in 2007 regarding lead paint hazards and various interior maintenance items. The property has undergone periodic routine safety inspections, most recently in 2018, and has maintained its soft-story retrofit compliance status as "Work Complete, CFC Issued."