252-256 Alma St, San Francisco, CA 94117

The three-story, six-unit multi-family residential building at 252-256 Alma Street, constructed in 1907 and currently owned by Sarah Anne Hunt, has undergone several significant improvements and faced various compliance issues over the years. Most notably, the building completed its mandatory soft-story retrofit in 2023, which included the installation of plywood shear walls and new concrete foundations in the basement, bringing the structure into compliance with San Francisco's seismic safety requirements.

This retrofit was initially not completed on time, resulting in a violation notice in 2021, but was ultimately resolved with the issuance of a Certificate of Final Completion in 2024. The property has seen multiple renovation projects, including a comprehensive kitchen and bathroom remodel in 2014 that required multiple permits due to initial work being done without proper permits.

Earlier improvements included plumbing and electrical upgrades in 2012-2014, addressing various systems including water pressure issues (which were part of a 2019-2022 violation case), electrical wiring, and kitchen appliances. The building's maintenance history shows attention to basic infrastructure, with repairs documented for issues like roof dry rot in 1987, an illegal basement workshop removal in 1988, and various plumbing and electrical upgrades over the years. Recent 311 calls (from late 2024) primarily relate to street-level maintenance issues like garbage and debris management, with one notable report about lifted sidewalk tree roots still being addressed as of November 2024.