1240 Hayes St, San Francisco, CA 94117

The 12-unit apartment building at 1240 Hayes Street in Alamo Square was built in 1928 and has undergone several significant renovations and maintenance work in recent years. Most notably, the building completed a mandatory soft-story retrofit in 2021 at a cost of $130,000, demonstrating compliance with seismic safety requirements.

In 2021-2022, substantial interior modifications were made to multiple units (2, 5, 10, and 12), including kitchen conversions, bathroom rehabilitations, and washer/dryer installations, with associated costs exceeding $125,000 across various permits. The building's safety systems have received regular attention, including a 2021 alarm system upgrade to meet current codes, and more recent plumbing improvements including a new water supply system and backflow preventer installation in 2023. Of particular concern was a serious incident in May 2021 involving a refrigeration line rupture in Unit 12 that released sulfur dioxide, resulting in a health department-ordered evacuation of the building.

While this incident was subsequently resolved, it reflects potential risks associated with the building's older infrastructure. The property has experienced recurring issues with its fire safety systems, as evidenced by multiple fire complaints between 2012 and 2023 regarding alarm systems and extinguishers, though each instance was marked as "Condition Corrected." The building's maintenance history shows attention to infrastructure needs, including a 2019 replacement of the domestic hot water system, though there were some regulatory compliance issues noted in 2008 regarding water service replacement that was subsequently resolved. The surrounding area has experienced various street-level maintenance issues as documented in recent 311 calls, though these are external to the building itself.