495 38th Ave, San Francisco, CA 94121

The three-story, six-unit multi-family residential building at 495 38th Avenue in San Francisco's Outer Richmond district, built in 1956 and currently owned by Koslowski Exemption Trust, has undergone several significant improvements and faced various maintenance challenges over the years. Notable recent improvements include a completed soft story retrofit in 2015 costing $85,000 (a mandatory seismic safety upgrade for Tier 3 buildings), and the installation of a new electrical service panel with 7 meters in 2008. The building has faced multiple challenges ensuring fire safety and security, particularly during a series of violations in April 2002 that required repairs to fire proofing, smoke enclosure doors, and egress pathways, as well as improvements to security features, though all these violations were abated by July 2002.

Earlier maintenance issues included garage leaks during rain in 1994 and a roofing project in 2015 that expired without completion notice. The property has experienced several fire alarm system incidents, with documented malfunctions in 2009 and 2015, though no injuries were reported in any fire-related incidents. A recent planning inquiry noted concerns about architecturally incompatible windows, though this request appears to have been cancelled.

The building's location has generated numerous 311 calls in the past year (2024-2025), primarily related to street cleaning and abandoned debris, with multiple reports of garbage and furniture left on the street. External infrastructure issues nearby have included a damaged parking meter and traffic signal. While the building has undergone some major improvements to meet current safety standards, including the mandatory soft story retrofit, the historical record shows periods of maintenance challenges and regulatory compliance efforts typical of older buildings in the San Francisco area. The most recent tenant buyout recorded for a property associated with the ownership was for $49,937.50 in August 2022 at 3627 Clement Street, though it's unclear if this directly relates to the 38th Avenue address.