634-638 Clayton St, San Francisco, CA 94117

The 6-unit, 3-story apartment building at 634-638 Clayton Street in the Haight Ashbury neighborhood, built in 1904 and owned by Clayton D Jew & Keilani Tom, has undergone several significant safety improvements in recent years. Most notably, in September 2023, the building received a comprehensive fire alarm system upgrade costing $45,000 to meet current safety codes, including the installation of new pull stations, smoke detectors, and the replacement of bells with horn strobes. The building completed its mandatory soft-story retrofit in 2017 (as a Tier 3 property), which involved adding a shear wall and foundation to improve seismic safety.

This retrofit work cost $48,000 and brought the building into compliance with San Francisco's seismic safety requirements. The property has a history of addressing safety concerns through various electrical and safety improvements. Two substantial electrical upgrades were completed in 2013 and 2014, involving comprehensive rewiring of plugs and lighting fixtures throughout the units, as well as installation of new panels and circuits.

Historical records show multiple building violations in 2002 and 2006 related to fire safety and building security, including issues with fire extinguishers, handrails, and door self-closing devices; however, all these violations were abated by 2002. The building's fire safety systems have been actively maintained, with no serious fire incidents recorded - only minor cooking fires and system malfunctions that caused no civilian injuries. Recent inspections and permit activity indicate ongoing maintenance and upgrading of building systems, particularly focusing on fire safety and electrical infrastructure. While there have been several 311 calls regarding street cleaning and waste issues in the vicinity between 2020 and 2023, these appear to be primarily street-level concerns rather than building-specific problems.