1558-1560 Howard St, San Francisco, CA 94103

The three-story, 6-unit apartment building at 1558-1560 Howard Street, managed by Harjindar & Margaret Chima, has undergone several significant improvements since its construction in 1913, most notably completing its mandatory seismic retrofit as a Tier 3 soft-story building in 2016-2018, at a cost of $70,000. The property has experienced recurring issues with its back stairway, requiring replacement or repair work in 1984 and 2003, suggesting ongoing structural concerns.

A serious safety incident occurred in 1985 when the basement suffered fire damage, though this was subsequently repaired. The building faced multiple health and safety challenges during the 2000s and early 2010s, including a concerning situation in 2014 with gas odors in the water heater closet, and a 2000 complaint about dry rot in the back stairs, lack of smoke detectors, and faulty wiring - all of which were ultimately resolved. The property has been proactive in addressing its maintenance requirements, with the most recent major work being the completion of the seismic retrofit program.

Historical violations primarily related to fire safety were recorded in 2000 and 2011, including issues with fire extinguisher maintenance, combustible storage, fire proofing, and water heaters. Recent 311 calls from 2020-2024 have primarily concerned external issues such as sidewalk conditions and street cleaning, which while important, are more related to the neighborhood environment than the building's internal conditions. The building's maintenance history shows a pattern of addressing structural and safety concerns, with most issues being resolved within reasonable timeframes, though some historical problems such as the 2000 back stairway issues indicate previous concerns about maintenance practices.