38-42 Sheridan St, San Francisco, CA 94103

The three-unit residential building at 38-42 Sheridan Street, constructed in 1900 and owned by Tom Li Fang, has experienced several significant maintenance and safety issues over its recent history. Most notably, in June 2013, there were serious plumbing problems involving sewer leaks beneath the laundry room and kitchen of the ground floor unit, which led to violations of San Francisco Plumbing Code requirements. These issues were reportedly severe enough to cause floor damage and were considered hazardous, affecting water lines and creating concerns about stagnant water.

The building has undergone multiple renovations over the years, including a substantial electrical upgrade in 2003 that involved installing new lighting, switches, receptacles, and a 200-amp service on the third floor. A comprehensive update of the three flats was completed in 1992, followed by various improvements including bathroom remodeling and kitchen renovations in 2003-2004. The property has faced several regulatory challenges, including a 2011 health and safety inspection that identified multiple issues requiring correction, such as security and fire safety concerns, including the need for fire extinguisher maintenance and emergency exit clearance.

More recent concerns include a fire alarm system violation from 2019, which was subsequently abated. The building's location has resulted in numerous 311 calls in recent years, primarily related to street cleaning and parking issues, with multiple reports of blocked driveways and illegal parking in the surrounding area. While there have been several smoke detector activations and alarm system tests documented in fire incident records, none resulted in actual fires or civilian injuries. The most recent building-related service requests have been for general street cleaning and maintenance issues, with one tree-related property damage report from 2022 still showing as active.