506-508 Ashbury St, San Francisco, CA 94117

The three-story, six-unit multi-family residential building at 506-508 Ashbury St in Haight Ashbury, constructed in 1907, has undergone significant safety improvements in recent years, most notably a comprehensive fire alarm system upgrade. Beginning in 2021, the building completed a mandatory replacement of its fire alarm system, including the installation of low-frequency sounders in sleeping areas, with subsequent revisions in 2022 that transitioned the system from wireless to hardwired, bringing the building into compliance with current safety standards and codes.

The property has also demonstrated commitment to structural safety through the completion of a soft-story retrofit in 2016, which addresses seismic concerns, and a $65,000 renovation of Unit #5 in 2021 that modernized various amenities without affecting building systems or structure. Historic records show the building has experienced various maintenance and safety issues over the years, including multiple violations between 2000 and 2019 related to fire safety, egress obstruction, lighting, and weatherproofing, though all these violations were subsequently abated. There were two fire complaints in July 2011 regarding blocked exits, which were resolved the same day.

Recent maintenance work has included the addition of emergency lighting in hallways (2005), exterior stair repairs (2006), and plumbing/electrical upgrades in Unit #5 (2021). The building's history includes some tenant comfort issues, such as a hot water outage in 2011 and a bathroom leak problem in 2013, though these were addressed promptly. Recent 311 calls from 2022-2024 primarily relate to external issues such as sidewalk maintenance, parking violations, and street cleaning needs, which while relevant to the building's surroundings, do not directly impact the building's internal conditions or safety systems.