643-645 Oak St, San Francisco, CA 94117

The 9-unit, 3-story multi-family residential building at 643-645 Oak Street in Hayes Valley, owned by Leon V & Estelita G Ribay, was constructed in 1900 and has undergone significant improvements over the past decades. Most notably, the building completed its mandatory soft-story retrofit in 2017 (Tier 3) and installed a comprehensive fire safety system upgrade that included new control panels, detectors, and pull stations in 2017-2024. Recent fire safety improvements include the installation of low-frequency horns in 2023-2024 to meet inspection requirements.

The building has undergone substantial plumbing infrastructure improvements, including a complete replacement of metal pipes with copper piping in 2017-2018, though this work led to multiple tenant complaints about water service interruptions. Other major improvements include new washer/dryer installations in 2021, reroofing in 2014, and various electrical system upgrades. The building has experienced several maintenance and safety issues over the years, with clustering of plumbing-related complaints in 2017-2018 regarding work being performed without proper permits, as well as ongoing hot water and heating system concerns. While most violations from the early 2000s related to fire safety and security requirements were resolved by mid-2002, there have been more recent fire safety complaints that were either found to have no merit or were quickly corrected.

The property maintains an active record of addressing tenant complaints and building maintenance issues, though there have been periodic issues with garbage and debris outside the building that required city intervention. The building has also had periodic issues with parking violations and sidewalk maintenance, with recent concerns in 2024 about tree roots lifting the sidewalk. Three fire-related incidents have been recorded, but none resulted in civilian injuries or significant damage. The most recent inspection and permit records indicate that the building is currently in compliance with major safety requirements, with particular attention to fire safety systems and structural improvements.