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50-52 Central Ave

Buena Vista Park/Ashbury Heights, SF 94117 1242006 3 units · 3 fl · 1904

Nothing on record for this building in the last seven years, and our model puts it at a low risk of maintenance problems over the next 12 months. No public enforcement record to go on. Walk the building, ask the current tenants how repairs get handled, and get any promises in writing.

NOVs (7y) vs. neighborhood
Records already on file, against a typical building in Buena Vista Park/Ashbury Heights — not a forecast
At or below average
avg 1.6
0
FewerMore

This building has 0 novs (7y), at or below the Buena Vista Park/Ashbury Heights average of 1.6.

Rent & eviction protection

Is 50-52 Central Ave rent-controlled?

San Francisco's Rent Ordinance caps rent increases and provides eviction protection for most residential units built before 1979 with 2+ units. Here's how this building scores.

Built before 1979
Built 1904
2 or more units
3 units
Property type
Multi-Family Residential
Zoning
RH3
Likely rent-controlled. Building age and unit count suggest this property falls under San Francisco's Rent Ordinance.

Based on SF Assessor records. Not legal advice — confirm with the SF Rent Board.

Statewide backstop · AB 1482

California Tenant Protection Act of 2019

Even when a building isn't covered by local rent stabilization, the statewide Tenant Protection Act (AB 1482) may still apply. It caps annual rent increases and requires the landlord to state a legal reason to end most tenancies.

15+ years since occupancy
Built 1904
Annual rent increase cap
5% + CPI, max 10%
Just-cause eviction
After 12 months
Local rent control likely takes priority. This building appears to fall under the local ordinance above, which is stronger than AB 1482. Where a local just-cause ordinance applies, its rules govern instead of the state cap.

AB 1482 does not apply to single-family homes and condos unless owned by a corporation, REIT, or an LLC with a corporate member; to owner-occupied duplexes; or to deed-restricted affordable housing. The Act is in effect until January 1, 2030. Not legal advice — see the California landlord–tenant guide.

Building characteristics
Units3
Floors3
Year built1904
Total area3,726 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusNone
Blocklot1242006
Ownership

Registered owner per SF Assessor-Recorder (secured roll).

Mailing address
West Coast Property Mgmt 714 Van Ness Ave San Francisco CA 94102
Last sale
August 03, 1994

Landlord portfolio

Other SF properties this owner holds, with a risk rating for each.

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Multiple entrances & addresses

Included addresses

All street addresses sharing this blocklot that are covered by this report.

50 Central Ave, San Francisco, CA 94117
1118 Waller St, San Francisco, CA 94117
52 Central Ave, San Francisco, CA 94117
Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

The three-unit, three-story multi-family residential building at 50-52 Central Avenue in the Buena Vista Park neighborhood, owned by the Podesta Edward L 1998 Trust, was constructed in 1904 and has undergone several significant maintenance and improvement projects over the past few years. Most notably, the building received a complete reroofing in 2019 ($21,565), and between 2017-2018, there were substantial HVAC system updates including the relocation and replacement of multiple gas furnaces, installation of dedicated electrical circuits for the furnaces, and associated plumbing work totaling approximately $30,000. The building has experienced recurring fire alarm system issues over the years, with multiple violations and false alarms documented between 2006 and 2019, primarily related to system malfunctions and unintentional activations, though all were marked as "Condition Corrected" or "Abated."

In recent months, there have been several maintenance and cleanliness issues reported in the vicinity of the property, including graffiti on the building and surrounding area, plumbing concerns, and various garbage/debris incidents, with multiple 311 calls registered between November 2024 and January 2025. However, these were primarily related to exterior conditions rather than interior building systems. The most recent building inspection on record was conducted in 2003, and while there have been multiple street space permits issued from 2008 to 2019, these were generally for temporary use of public space. The building's systems appear to have received regular attention, with the most significant recent work focused on HVAC and fire safety systems, though the ongoing pattern of fire alarm activations and violations suggests historical challenges with the building's safety systems have been persistent over time.

AI-generated · may contain errors · check the source data tables below

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Risk rating

How 50-52 Central Ave's risk score is calculated

We trained a model on 7 years of SF DBI inspection data — notice of violation filings, complaint history, and owner track records. It estimates the probability that DBI inspectors will issue a Notice of Violation at this address in the next 12 months. Lower % = safer.

What the score means for you

Lower risk — safer than most nearby

DBI rarely finds violations here. Strong maintenance history and a clean complaint record.

Typical — about average for the neighborhood

Some past violations or complaints on record. Worth asking the landlord about any open issues before signing.

Higher risk — riskier than most nearby

Elevated violation and complaint history. DBI has found issues here before and is statistically likely to again.

Neighborhood percentile
58thpercentile

Out of 351 buildings in this neighborhood, 147 are predicted to be safer. The band is relative to this neighborhood, so a share of every neighborhood falls in each colour.

RiskiestSafest
Predicted 12-month outcome
82%
No DBI
violation
18%
DBI violation
likely
Model explanation

What's driving this score

The three data points that most influenced this building's risk rating — ranked by the weight the model placed on each one.

Building age

Older buildings tend to have more maintenance challenges; SF's pre-1906 earthquake housing stock carries distinct risk.

Construction spend, owner's portfolio

Estimated permit value across all of this owner's buildings.

Neighborhood location

Precise location is a proxy for neighborhood-level risk — some SF blocks have systematically higher DBI activity.

12-Month risk forecast
Low failure risk 18%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
Apartment reviews

50-52 Central Ave apartment reviews

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On the map

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Buildings nearby
8 found
The story over time

50-52 Central Ave event timeline

Violations, complaints, fire incidents, permits, and buyouts — most recent records in order.

2026
311 Request Jun 18
Garbage and debris
other bagged boxed contained garbage
311 RequestMay 22
Other illegal parking

See all 5 events

Full history back to 2026 — violations, complaints, permits, buyouts, and fire incidents.

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Every record we have

Full data for 50-52 Central Ave apartments

13 SF public datasets for this parcel — permits, violations, complaints, fire records, 311 calls, planning records, and buyouts.

Side by side

How 50-52 Central Ave compares to the neighborhood

This building against comparable properties in Buena Vista Park/Ashbury Heights. Toggle filters to narrow the peer group.

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