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895-897 34Th Ave

Outer Richmond, SF 94121 1677011C 5 units · 3 fl · 1926

This building has far more open problems than almost any other in the neighborhood. A handful of unresolved issues. Worth a careful walk-through and pointed questions.

NOVs (7y) vs. neighborhood
Compared to a typical building in Outer Richmond
Above average
avg 0.7
8
FewerMore

This building has 8 novs (7y), above the Outer Richmond average of 0.7.

Rent & eviction protection

Is 895-897 34Th Ave rent-controlled?

San Francisco's Rent Ordinance caps rent increases and provides eviction protection for most residential units built before 1979 with 2+ units. Here's how this building scores.

Built before 1979
Built 1926
2 or more units
5 units
Property type
Multi-Family Residential
Zoning
RH2
Likely rent-controlled. Building age and unit count suggest this property falls under San Francisco's Rent Ordinance.

Based on SF Assessor records. Not legal advice — confirm with the SF Rent Board.

Building characteristics
Units5
Floors3
Year built1926
Total area4,840 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusNone
Blocklot1677011C
Ownership

Registered owner per SF Assessor-Recorder (secured roll).

Owner name
Chow Family Trust
Mailing address
Chow Gin Keung Ken & Lun Lu 36421 Dijon Dr Newark CA 94560
Last sale
021221

Landlord portfolio

Other SF properties this owner holds, with risk grades for each.

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Multiple entrances & addresses

Included addresses

All street addresses sharing this blocklot that are covered by this report.

897 34th Ave, San Francisco, CA 94121
895 34th Ave, San Francisco, CA 94121
Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

The Chow Family Trust-owned multi-family residential building at 895-897 34th Avenue in the Outer Richmond neighborhood is a 3-story, 5-unit apartment building constructed in 1926, with recent significant modifications including the addition of two ADUs on the first floor completed in 2019 (under ordinance #162-16) and the legalization of a sixth unit. The building has undergone several important safety upgrades, most notably a complete fire alarm system upgrade in 2023 to comply with San Francisco Fire Code requirements, and the installation of a new fire sprinkler system for an ADU in 2021, demonstrating ongoing attention to life safety systems. Recent building issues have included concerns about construction access, electrical safety (with reports of exposed wiring and hazardous outlets), and plumbing problems including water intrusion and leaks. The building has a completed Soft-Story retrofit (Tier 4) status, addressing seismic safety requirements.

The property has experienced numerous maintenance and compliance challenges in recent years, with multiple tenant complaints regarding construction work, water damage, electrical systems, and building access. Active complaints from 2023 include concerns about unauthorized window installation, premature ADU occupancy before completion of fire code requirements, and construction blocking access to refuse and laundry facilities. Historical records show the building faced several violations in 2000 related to fire safety systems and security requirements, which were abated, and a 2017 violation concerning water damage. Recent 311 calls in 2024 have primarily concerned park-related issues and general maintenance matters, while planning records confirm the various legalization and ADU addition projects completed at the property. The building's comprehensive permit history indicates significant investment in infrastructure improvements, with recent work totaling over $40,000 in fire safety upgrades and various maintenance projects.

AI-generated · may contain errors · check the source data tables below

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Risk rating

How 895-897 34Th Ave's risk score is calculated

We trained a model on 7 years of SF DBI inspection data — notice of violation filings, complaint history, and owner track records. It estimates the probability that DBI inspectors will issue a Notice of Violation at this address in the next 12 months. Lower % = safer.

What the score means for you

Grade A–B — Low risk

DBI rarely finds violations here. Strong maintenance history and a clean complaint record.

Grade C — Moderate risk

Some past violations or complaints on record. Worth asking the landlord about any open issues before signing.

Grade D–F — High risk

Elevated violation and complaint history. DBI has found issues here before and is statistically likely to again.

Neighborhood percentile
6th percentile

Out of 1040 buildings in this neighborhood, 978 are predicted to be safer.

RiskiestSafest
Predicted 12-month outcome
40%
No DBI
violation
60%
DBI violation
likely
Model explanation

What's driving this score

The three data points that most influenced this building's risk rating — ranked by the weight the model placed on each one.

DBI tenant complaints (past 7 years)

Formal complaints tenants filed with DBI about this building over 7 years.

Number of units

The number of units affects how the model reads complaint and violation totals — more units means more potential sources.

DBI complaints, owner's portfolio

Complaints across all of this owner's buildings over 7 years.

12-Month severity forecast
No violation 34.2%
Moderate concern 34.9%
Severe concern 30.8%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months at each severity level. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
Apartment reviews

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The story over time

895-897 34Th Ave event timeline

Violations, complaints, fire incidents, permits, and buyouts — most recent records in order.

2025
311 Request Nov 14
Abandoned vehicle
Parking Enforcement
311 RequestFeb 28
Garbage and debris

See all 27 events

Full history back to 2019 — violations, complaints, permits, buyouts, and fire incidents.

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Every record we have

Full data for 895-897 34Th Ave apartments

13 SF public datasets for this parcel — permits, violations, complaints, fire records, 311 calls, planning records, and buyouts.

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Cancel anytime · Data sourced from SF Open Data, DBI, SFFD, SF Rent Board & Planning

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