647 Kansas St, San Francisco, CA 94107

The two-unit residential building at 647 Kansas Street in Potrero Hill, owned by Kathryn Shumays, is a two-story flats and duplex structure built in 1906. The property has undergone several significant renovations, with the most substantial work occurring in 2010-2011, when a comprehensive remodeling project valued at over $170,000 was completed. This project included installation of new front stairs, infilling of the south lightwell, raising the rear porch roof, replacing and installing new windows, creating internal stairs between floors, remodeling two kitchens, updating bathrooms, and adding skylights.

Prior improvements include a horizontal addition in 2003 replacing rear decks and stairways, retaining wall reconstruction in 1998, and front stairs dry rot repairs in 1993. While the building's major systems have been updated in the 2010-2011 renovations, including electrical work (albeit one electrical permit expired), there was a brief period of plumbing work during 2011. The property has experienced various maintenance and infrastructure challenges in recent years, particularly concerning the sidewalk area. Between 2020-2022, multiple reports were made regarding sidewalk defects, including collapsed and lifted sections, though most were resolved through contractor corrections or found to be not present upon inspection.

Additional minor issues such as a missing side sewer vent cover (2021), a damaged tree (2021), and a defaced parking sign (2022) were documented and subsequently resolved. The building's history includes a short period of unauthorized short-term rental activity that resulted in a violation notice, though this appears to have been resolved. Recent planning records show a proposal to reduce the lower unit's size to increase the upper unit's space, though this appears to have been abated or withdrawn. An earlier housing complaint from 1998 regarding water infiltration was resolved within several months.