891-897 38th Ave, San Francisco, CA 94121

The multi-family residential building at 891-897 38th Avenue in the Outer Richmond, owned by Fanny Chen, is a two-story, four-unit apartment building constructed in 1924 that has experienced significant events, most notably a serious fire incident in March 2009 that affected unit 897 and caused smoke damage in units 891, 893, and 895. This fire incident required extensive repairs costing $475,000 to restore the affected units, completed in September 2009, including the installation of new furnaces in all four units, comprehensive electrical rewiring, and kitchen and bathroom remodels in several units.

Before the fire, the building had received several violation notices in late 2004 regarding fire safety concerns, specifically related to combustible storage and sprinkler requirements, though these were abated by February 2005. The building underwent significant electrical upgrades in 2009, including the installation of new panelboards, circuits, lighting, and safety features such as smoke detectors across all units.

Recent maintenance records from 2024 show continued attention to building upkeep, with multiple 311 calls regarding structural maintenance and park services, though some issues like graffiti remain open as of October 2023. Fire safety systems appear to have been properly installed or upgraded following the 2009 fire, with no recorded civilian injuries from subsequent fire-related incidents, which were limited to false alarms or smoke detector activations. The building's historical records show regular maintenance and inspections, with the most recent concerns primarily relating to external issues such as garbage collection and park services, rather than internal building conditions.