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487-489 Buena Vista Ave

Buena Vista Park/Ashbury Heights, SF 94117 2607108 2 units · 2 fl · 1952

This building has far more open problems than almost any other in the neighborhood. Renters here report frequent, slow-to-fix problems. Get repair promises in writing and check the unit before signing.

NOVs (7y) vs. neighborhood
Compared to a typical building in Buena Vista Park/Ashbury Heights
Above average
avg 1.6
30
FewerMore

This building has 30 novs (7y), above the Buena Vista Park/Ashbury Heights average of 1.6.

Rent & eviction protection

Is 487-489 Buena Vista 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 1952
2 or more units
2 units
Property type
Multi-Family Residential
Zoning
RH3
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
Units2
Floors2
Year built1952
Total area2,995 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusHome Owners
Blocklot2607108
Ownership

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

Owner name
Marks Standish
Mailing address
489 Buena Vista Ave E San Francisco CA 94117
Last sale
000000

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.

489 Buena Vista Ave East, San Francisco, CA 94117
487 Buena Vista Ave East, San Francisco, CA 94117
Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

The two-unit residential building at 487-489 Buena Vista Ave, owned by Marks Standish, is a 2-story duplex constructed in 1952. The property has experienced significant maintenance challenges, particularly in early 2023, when multiple active housing code violations were filed including issues with heating systems, water penetration, electrical wiring, appliances, and rodent infestation. A serious complaint was filed in February 2023 detailing roof leaks causing water damage through ceilings, windows, and light fixtures, along with electrical fire concerns and visible mold. The building underwent several repairs in late 2024, including electrical and plumbing work, kitchen carpentry repairs, and roof repairs totaling approximately $49,600, following up on various code compliance issues from 2023. Historical records show previous roofing work in 2023 (completed), and in 2005 there were permits for bathroom remodeling and deck rebuilding. The building has also seen improvements such as the installation of a 2.5 kW solar electric system in 2013, window and siding work, and various electrical updates. Historical complaints from 2019 and 2005 indicate ongoing concerns with electrical wiring and roof leaks. The property has received attention from various city departments for multiple issues including maintenance of common areas, building extensions without permits, and structural maintenance requirements, though many of these historical complaints have been resolved or closed.

Recent activity around the property (2023-2024) includes multiple infrastructure improvements and repairs, with particular attention to electrical systems, plumbing, and roof maintenance. The building has undergone significant recent work to address safety and habitability concerns, though several active violations from 2023 related to building systems and maintenance remain noted in the records. The property has maintained its classification as a multi-family residential building throughout its history, with both units receiving various upgrades and maintenance work over the years.

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

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Risk rating

How 487-489 Buena Vista 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
5th percentile

Out of 351 buildings in this neighborhood, 333 are predicted to be safer.

RiskiestSafest
Predicted 12-month outcome
26%
No DBI
violation
74%
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.

NOV rate, owner's portfolio

Per-building NOV rate across everything this owner manages — high rates signal pattern neglect.

Notices of Violation (past 7 years)

DBI issued Notices of Violation at this address over the last 7 years — a direct record of code enforcement activity.

DBI tenant complaints (past 7 years)

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

12-Month severity forecast
No violation 15.2%
Moderate concern 53.3%
Severe concern 31.5%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months at each severity level. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
Apartment reviews

487-489 Buena Vista Ave apartment reviews

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The story over time

487-489 Buena Vista Ave event timeline

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

2026
DBI Complaint May 28
Doing a job without permit for stiars.
Housing Inspection Services
Building PermitMay 20
To comply with nov# 202653140 item 2. replace less than 50% of rear stair in kind to to abate vioation 202653140.

See all 22 events

Full history back to 2023 — violations, complaints, permits, buyouts, and fire incidents.

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Every record we have

Full data for 487-489 Buena Vista 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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