491-495 27th Ave, San Francisco, CA 94121

The 20-unit, three-story apartment building at 491-495 27th Avenue in San Francisco's Central Richmond neighborhood is a 1922 structure currently owned by BVA LLC. The building has undergone significant recent improvements, including a massage therapy conversion in 2023 with associated accessibility upgrades ($80,000), electrical and plumbing work, and previously completed soft-story seismic upgrades in 2018 ($108,000) with a completed electrical installation for the new commercial unit.

The property has experienced recurring fire safety concerns, with multiple violations and complaints regarding alarm systems between 2016 and 2024, including an active violation for the alarm system maintenance issued in October 2024, and a sleeping area requirement violation from December 2023. The building previously faced substantial issues in 2005, when multiple fire safety violations were documented, including problems with fire escapes, combustible storage, and non-fire-resistant materials, though these were eventually resolved.

The ground floor commercial space has been a point of ongoing attention, with recent permit activity related to converting garage space into commercial use, adding bike parking, and installing an ADA-compliant restroom. A cluster of complaints about garbage and debris removal from the property has been documented through 311 calls in 2024, suggesting ongoing maintenance challenges in the area. The building successfully completed its soft-story retrofit requirements under San Francisco's mandatory program, achieving CFC certification.