657-659 Natoma St, San Francisco, CA 94103

The 4-unit, 2-story apartment building at 657-659 Natoma Street was built in 1907 and has undergone several significant renovations and maintenance projects over its history. The most substantial recent work occurred in 2020, when a major remodeling project valued at $810,000 was undertaken, including foundation replacement, rear stairs and deck replacement, and lightwell infill. This followed a period of serious maintenance issues, including a notable sequence of violations in 2014 regarding water leaks into the common lightwell that reportedly affected neighboring properties, which were only abated in 2016.

The building experienced multiple safety and code compliance issues between 2007-2014, including violations related to fire safety (missing fire extinguishers, egress obstructions) and maintenance concerns such as combustible storage in the basement. An important recent development is a project proposal to elevate the building by approximately 7 feet to add a new story and construct a shared roof deck, though this appears to be in the planning stages as of early 2023. The property has maintained basic infrastructure through various upgrades, including electrical system improvements (2004) and sewer repairs (2016).

Historical records show earlier renovations including kitchen and bathroom updates (2004), deck replacement (2005), and roofing work (1994). The building's management has faced challenges with external maintenance issues, as evidenced by numerous 311 calls in 2024 regarding garbage and debris on the property and surrounding area. While most recent work has focused on substantial building improvements, the property's history includes periods of significant code violations and repair needs that required attention to basic safety and maintenance standards. The rear yard variance requests in planning records suggest ongoing consideration for further improvements to the property.