The great California novelist, playwright and writer William Saroyan once said: “San Francisco itself is art… Every block is a short story, every hill a novel. Every home a poem, every dweller within immortal.”
The immortal qualities of those residents who have lived amid the verse and stanzas of regal mansions in historic neighborhoods like Pacific Heights underscore the timeless, enduring nature of San Francisco. Each street in Pacific Heights tells a different story. Broadway Street, for example, is a tale of wealth and prestige, told in quiet, Old World elegance. A bevy of high profile affluent individuals have set down roots here, on what has now become known as “Billionaire’s Row”: The Getty’s, Oracle’s Larry Ellison and Jony Ive of Apple, Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich, Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi and author Danielle Steele to name a few, according to media reports. As for the “poems” themselves, they each capture their own interpretations of the view.
One turn-of-the-century work of art, nestled on an enviable corner lot and featuring one of the most expansive vantage points on Broadway Street, offers awe-inspiring panoramas sweeping across the San Francisco Bay, the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, Sausalito, Belvedere, Tiburon and Angel Island in the distance. The graciously appointed four-level mansion is now on the market for the first time in almost two decades, listed by David Bellings of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in San Francisco.
Built in 1917, the residence is spread across four levels in approximately 9,000 square feet. According to Mansion Global, the home “underwent a major renovation to add amenities that may not have been available in 1917. At that time, numerous Art Deco fixtures, such as etched glass windows and doors, were added throughout the house.”
The home was tastefully restored marrying historic elements, such as the exquisite stonework intricately carved by master craftsman with the uncompromising modern conveniences desired in today’s luxury homes. Explains Bellings: “The detailing throughout the house was preserved and very well-maintained over the years. When you first enter the home, it’s one of the first things you notice, along with the exceptional volume and scale of the interiors.”
The grand, light-filled foyer sets the stage for drama as it leads into a gallery surrounded by etched glass, arched doorways, ornately carved columns and marble floors. From many of the rooms, the stunning architectural detail frames postcard-worthy views. A barrel-vaulted ceiling in the living room lifts the space to heightened refinement. A formal dining room, complete with views and wood paneling, provides just the setting needed to host sophisticated guests.
Six fireplaces with antique mantles, and soaring ceiling heights also give the home an air of grandeur. “The home was tailor-made for someone who really wants a showcase property,” says Bellings. “The public rooms are of the size and scale that allows you to easily entertain.” And yet, he adds, “it’s a very livable house with well-proportioned spaces for a family or couple” with five to six bedrooms, five and one-half bathrooms, a gym, family/media room, multiple home offices and a wine room. The professionally landscaped gardens, which feature mature plantings set behind hand-tooled iron gates, enhance the privacy and beauty of the property.
“Residences of this caliber and size, on a coveted street and with world-class views so close to all of the major San Francisco landmarks, don’t come on the market all that often,” says Bellings. “Combined with its access to gorgeous parks, playgrounds, and miles of hiking, running and biking in the adjacent Presidio Park, this home is a true historic gem for one who cherishes a storied mansion in a prime location.”
Bellings would know — he has lived in San Francisco for 37 years and has sold luxury real estate for 32 years in the city. “It is an iconic San Francisco home,” he proclaims. Or, as Saroyan might put it: an immortal poem that will continue to delight and inspire, even as it prepares for its next owner.
