511 Waller St, San Francisco, CA 94117

The 6-unit, 3-story multi-family residential building at 511 Waller Street in Hayes Valley, built in 1900 and currently owned by Greenwood Trust, has undergone several significant safety improvements over the past two decades. Most recently, in 2023, the building received a $26,000 reroofing upgrade with a 3-ply modified bitumen system. The property completed its mandatory soft-story retrofit in 2017, which included the installation of plywood shear walls in the basement, achieving compliance with seismic safety requirements.

Fire safety systems have been progressively improved, with the installation of a fire alarm system in 2007, fire sprinkler rough piping in 2007 (following an earlier permit from 2004), and electrical upgrades including a new 1200A main switch and meter relocation in 2004. The building has had multiple fire safety-related incidents recorded by the fire department, primarily related to false alarms and detector activations, with the most concerning incident being a gas leak call that resulted in no injuries. The property has a history of building code violations, particularly in 2002 when multiple issues were identified including combustible storage, egress obstruction, smoke enclosure door repairs, and stair repairs, all of which were abated by January 2003.

Earlier maintenance work included repairs to exterior stairs in 2002, seismic improvements in 1996, and structural repairs in 1989. More recent building maintenance issues have been predominantly related to the exterior, with several 311 calls in 2024 regarding graffiti, a missing side sewer vent cover, and an encampment situation. The building's fire safety systems have been regularly tested, with multiple detector activations recorded but no fires or civilian injuries reported. Recent complaints from 2024 primarily concern exterior maintenance and public space issues rather than building safety concerns.