159 Dolores St, San Francisco, CA 94103

The 5-unit, 2-story apartment building at 159 Dolores Street in Mission Dolores, owned by the Susan M Mitchell Revocable Trust, has undergone several significant safety improvements over recent years. Most notably, in 2021, the building received important fire safety upgrades including the installation of low-frequency sounders meeting 75dB requirements at pillow levels, and replacement of the fire alarm control panel, representing a $13,204 investment in resident safety.

The building successfully completed its mandatory soft-story retrofit in 2017 (classified as Tier 3), demonstrating compliance with seismic safety requirements, and received a Certificate of Final Completion. Additional safety enhancements included an underground electrical service conversion to 200-amp capacity completed in 2003, and more recent fire alarm system upgrades in 2022 to maintain compatibility and certification. The building has been subject to routine safety inspections by Housing Inspection Services in 2009, 2010, and 2020, though one complaint from 2019 raised concerns about potential lead paint hazards in a studio apartment with window seal chipping.

The property has experienced multiple nuisance issues in the surrounding area in recent years, with seven street cleaning and garbage-related complaints recorded between 2022 and 2024, though these were generally resolved promptly by city services. There have been three documented fire alarm activations, though all were determined to be false alarms or system malfunctions with no civilian injuries reported. While these incidents indicate some ongoing maintenance needs, the building's major safety systems have received consistent attention and upgrades, particularly fire safety systems, which have been brought into compliance with current code requirements.