1608-1612 Balboa St, San Francisco, CA 94121

The property at 1608-1612 Balboa Street in the Central Richmond neighborhood is a two-unit, two-story multi-family residential building with street-level commercial space, constructed in 1924 and currently owned by the Kwong Family Trust. The building's maintenance history shows regular window replacements, with multiple permits issued between 1990 and 2005 for window upgrades, along with various interior improvements including kitchen cabinet replacement in 1992 and hallway repairs in 1993. Several significant issues have emerged in recent years, including multiple complaints about unauthorized dwelling units in commercial space during 2023, an illegal dwelling in a vacant commercial store (July 2023), and concerns about construction work being performed without proper permits (August 2022).

The building has also faced periodic maintenance and safety concerns, including overgrown vegetation in 2018, a potentially unsafe painting frame in 2020, and a history of combustible materials and weed-related fire hazards between 2014-2018. The property's recent history has been marked by several concerning patterns, particularly regarding unauthorized modifications and usage of the commercial space, as evidenced by multiple building complaints between 2022-2023. A paint condition complaint was filed in March 2024 regarding chipping paint at 1614 Balboa, with potential lead concerns.

The building's exterior has experienced various maintenance issues as documented in 311 calls throughout 2024, including problems with overflowing garbage and sidewalk blockages. Historical records show the property has undergone typical urban maintenance and improvement work, including window replacements and interior renovations, though some permits from the 1990s and 1980s are listed as expired or incomplete. The most persistent issues appear to revolve around the proper use and maintenance of the commercial portion of the building, with multiple violations related to egress obstruction and storage of combustible materials in past years.