Joel Goodrich  & Mark Venegas Present:

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Magnificent Pacific Heights Beaux-Arts Mansion With Bay and Golden Gate Views On Alta Plaza Park 2640 Jackson Street  $14,950,000

RARELY AVAILABLE PREMIERE LOCATION ON ALTA PLAZA PARK…

             SWEEPING BAY, PARK AND CITY VIEWS…

                                  MAGNIFICENT SCALE AND ARCHITECTURE…

Prominently situated on one of the City’s more iconic mansion-lined blocks gracing historic Alta Plaza Park, this Pacific Heights Beaux Arts-era Jewel features exceptionally grand-scaled rooms, irreplaceable architectural detailing, stunning views of the Bay to the North, and beautiful outlooks over the Park and City to the South.

The magnificently proportioned public rooms work beautifully for family life as well as large social, philanthropic, cultural and business occasions. Just off the elegant dining room, the cozy eat-in kitchen provides an inviting space stepping out to the North terrace and park-like garden- perfect for casual everyday living while enjoying picture-postcard views of the Bay.

This exquisite residence is nestled in the heart of Pacific Heights, amongst other magnificent mansions and stately consulates. It is within easy walking distance to the trend-setting boutiques and popular restaurants of Fillmore, Union, Chestnut, and Sacramento Streets. For open space, it is also walkable to some of the world’s most beautiful parks and beaches. Its perfect location, just a short drive to the world-class tech and finance hubs of SoMa and the Financial District, has easy access to the Golden Gate Bridge, Marin & California’s world-renowned Wine Country.

The location, style and sweeping views of this elegant residence provide a quintessentially San Francisco lifestyle and offer a luxurious urban experience in one of the City’s most sought-after and vibrant historical neighborhoods.

Enjoy The Online Brochure Here

PROPERTY PROFILE

- 9 Bedrooms, 7 Bathrooms, powder room, formal dining room, two family rooms, three terraces, large back patio/ garden and 8 fireplaces
- 2-car tandem garage plus 3-car outside parking
- 7,772 square feet as per appraisal, 5,925 square feet as per tax records; buyer to independently verify
- 5,819 Square Foot lot as per City of San Francisco Tax Records
- Originally built circa 1889 and re-designed in 1916
- Top level added in 1954
- Single family with guest/ staff quarters. 

THE RESIDENCE

Originally designed at the height of the Gilded Age Victorian era, circa 1889, for a prominent San Francisco family by the legendary 19th Century starchitects Pissis & Moore, this stunning residence is available for the first time in 45 years. This renowned firm also designed many iconic San Francisco landmarks, including the Flood Building, The Emporium, Hibernia Bank, and Congregation Sherith Israel Temple. In 1916, the second owner undertook a substantial revision of 2640 Jackson to its current configuration as an elegant Beaux Arts-style mansion featuring Georgian influences, with Edward Eyestone Young, a prominent early 20th Century San Francisco architect.

 Venue to numerous glamorous soirees over the past three centuries, this singular Jewel is ready for its next generation of stewardship into the 21st Century…

The Main Level

A Grand Entrance- The large, side Portico Entrance, artistically crafted with beautiful Ionic columns and moldings, opens into a breathtaking and elegant Entrance Foyer. This grand room is illuminated by a large, multi-tiered crystal chandelier that previously graced one of San Francisco’s famed movie palaces and is bordered by wide, hand carved, 3-dimensional crown moldings. The architectural grandness of the Foyer is enhanced by a wide, dramatically curved staircase, leading to the upper floor. Its superbly crafted balustrade reveals a master woodworker’s expertise. Off this magnificent space is a cloak room leading into a chic tented powder room

Step Into A World Of Glamour- Immediately to the left of the Foyer is the elegantly proportioned, stunningly gracious Living Room occupying the full front width of the house. Crowned by magnificent acanthus leaf moldings, this grand-scale room is surrounded by windows and enjoys a prominent wood-burning fireplace with hand-painted marbled and mirrored surrounds. The light-filled space is bright and airy during the day, and warmly welcoming in the evening. Captivating vistas overlooking Alta Plaza Park frame the sweeping Southern views towards the twinkling lights of the City and beyond.

A Banquet-Size Dining Room- To the right of the Entrance Foyer is the entertainer’s dream Formal Dining Room flanked by Bay windows, a fireplace with trompe-l’oeil and marble surround, and a unique crystal chandelier. With seating for ten or more, the Dining Room is graciously accommodating and dramatically elegant, particularly in the evening when the lighting highlights the glimmering antique mirrored silver and China cabinets and gorgeous architectural elements. Looking out the North bay window reveals the shimmering lights of the City with the sparkling waters of the Bay in the background, providing a scintillating backdrop for this exquisite entertaining space.

Charming Eat-In Kitchen with Terrace- As special as these rooms are for entertaining, the cozy eat-in Kitchen is a social and family center in itself. Not a typical kitchen, it was conceived as an elegant Drawing Room, with a large French crystal chandelier, paintings, extra-tall ceiling-height, gold-framed mirroires mercures, and Fortuny sconces. It serves as a warm and welcoming space, ideal for intimate “kitchen dinners,” or morning coffees and breakfasts with comfortable seating for eight. A large pantry, granite counters and back-splash, and a Gourmet Wolf 4-burner range with grill come together to make this a delightful chef’s kitchen. A glass door leads to the expansive North Terrace with inviting seating and lounging areas. This large outdoor space overlooks the garden and the Bay, with the Capri-like hills of Marin in the background- creating a wonderful outdoor expansion of the extensive living and entertaining spaces. Below the Terrace, the large park-like patio and garden feature a classic stone fountain encircled with 70-year-old boxwood hedges- fabulous for casual everyday living and lounging as well as large-scale outdoor entertaining.

Separate Guest Quarters- A Hallway with an antique Spanish tile frieze in the butler’s pantry leads from the kitchen to the Guest/ 8th Bedroom with an en-suite granite bath and charming greenery outlooks.

The Second Level

- Ascending the wide architectural Main Staircase with a gracious landing in the middle, one appreciates the old-world artistry of the curved marquetry wainscoting continuing to the next floor. At the top of the staircase an original architectural element- a large skylight with elegant multi-coved moldings- crowns the large upstairs landing connecting the rooms on this level. At the landing, a Back Staircase also connects to the other floors to create a second access- a useful amenity given the large footprint of each floor 

- This level of the residence enjoys four large bedrooms and three baths, plus sweeping 270-degree views of the North Bay, including Tiburon, Angel Island, and Alcatraz, which continue all the way around to the South Bay and City Lights.

- The luxuriously romantic primary bedroom enjoys lush South views of the greenery of Alta Plaza Park, with City lights twinkling in the background beyond. A fireplace topped by a large gilded mirror is flanked by two elegantly built-in closets, in addition to the two walk-in closets. A spacious en-suite marble bath enjoys a soaking tub with Jacuzzi-style jets, dual sinks, and walk-in shower.

- The charming 2nd/ Family Bedroom is graced with the most unique medallion and coved ceiling and picture molding in the entire house. This beautiful room is reflected by mirrored and paneled walls, and also enjoys an en-suite 2nd bath with shower/ tub.

- Further north on this floor is the 3rd bedroom featuring a gorgeous fireplace and built-ins, as well as views of the Bay and Park.

- The light-filled 4th bedroom/ family room also enjoys a fireplace as well as beautiful Bay and City views. Adjoining this room is a Kitchenette with a North terrace. All combined, this makes a wonderful communal gathering space on this level and one that affords relaxing and ever-changing views of cruise ships, cargo vessels, and sailboats traversing the Bay.

The Top Floor

- The stairs ascending to the top level are crowned with a large frosted-glass skylight showering light throughout this area of the residence.

- This mid-century addition crowning the residence enjoys a wide-open family Sky-room, with fireplace, large North terrace and dramatic views of the Bay, City and Marin Headlands. The adjoining Sitting/ Dining room/ 5th bedroom and 2nd Kitchen, with hardwood floors and granite counters, add another dimension to the home, creating a totally separate contemporary and casual living, relaxing and entertainment level.

- Also on this level is a Southwest corner 6th bedroom and en-suite bath with views of the City, Twin Peaks and the Bay framing lovely outlooks over the Park.

- The 5th bath with stall shower is lined with marble and serves the front rooms on this level as well as the 6th bedroom

 - The Southeast corner 7th bedroom enjoys panoramas of the City Skyline including its newest icon, Salesforce Tower, as well as an en-suite 6th bath, creating wonderfully separate quarters for guests or older children.

- Additional large Storage Closets complete this level of the residence

The Garden Level

- This floor is accessible from the kitchen as well as from a separate entry from the street. Here, a long hall connects the Guest/Staff Quarters and provides another interior access into the garage, back stairs up to the kitchen and to the other floors.

- On this floor are additional rooms, including a large coved foyer and a classic black and white kitchen with tiled flooring and granite counter-tops. This space adjoins the living/ sitting room and office areas and looks out onto a charming side patio with lush greenery. Beyond is a 9th bedroom, and a split bath with shower/ tub which services the rooms.

- This level opens directly to the outdoor spaces and garden, creating a wonderful second exterior access for all levels of the home.

- A 2-car tandem garage along with a brick-paved driveway and 3 car outdoor parking complete this level of the home

THE ARCHITECT AND THE HISTORY- 1888-2021

The original 13 room, 6 bath home was built in 1888 during the Beaux-Arts era for Joseph Haber by Pissis & Moore, Architects, and R.McElroy, Contractor. The famed starchitects of the era were designers of many San Francisco landmarks, including the Flood Building, The Emporium, Hibernia Bank, and Congregation Sherith Israel Temple.

Albert Pissis (1852–1914) was a pro­lific San Fran­cisco ar­chi­tect who studied at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, France and is credited with introducing the Beaux-Arts architectural style to San Fran­cisco, California, designing a number of important buildings in the City in the years before and after the 1906 San Fran­cisco earthquake.

Life and career- Pissis was born on April 26, 1852, to a French Father and a Mexican Mother in Guaymas in the Mexican state of Sonora. His Father, a physician, moved the family to San Fran­cisco when Pis­sis was six. He was one of the first Americans to study at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, France. He returned in 1880 to San Fran­cisco, which at the time was a fairly provincial western town despite its wealth, with buildings designed in a variety of ar­chi­tect styles.

In 1882 Pis­sis became a member of the American In­sti­tute of Architects and, with partner William P. Moore, designed a number of buildings in flamboyant Queen Anne and Eastlake styles. However, by the 1890s he was a major figure in the Neoclassical (Classical Revival) movement, particularly Beaux-Arts, and introduced that style to San Fran­cisco beginning with the Hibernia Bank building in 1892. Initially considered revolutionary, the style became popular among the City’s powerful commercial and banking concerns. The dome he designed for the Emporium Department Store, now part of the Westfield San Fran­cisco Centre, is often reconsidered a “masterpiece”.

Pissis played a major role in San Francisco’s reconstruction following the Great Earthquake of 1906, both as a designer of a number of the city’s landmark buildings, and as a member of the Committee of Fifty. He was also President of the local AIA Chap­ter from 1907 to 1908.

Although popular and internationally known at the time, Pissis’s approach to design was derided by later critics as reactionary, and blamed for suppressing more original ar­chi­tect such as Frank Lloyd Wright and Louis Sullivan in favor of implantation of older European traditions. However, in more recent years his buildings have been increasingly praised.

2640 Jackson was initially built in the Victorian style with a peaked roof and constructed of thick, solid redwood from the once abundant California old growth redwood forests. The original front entrance was accessed by a tall central staircase from the street. Upon entry, unlike its current grand rooms, the home followed the standard Victorian configuration of multiple small rooms to accommodate the original owner’s large family and to entertain guests.

The home was built on a hilltop in Pacific Heights, across from a twelve-acre granite quarry bordered by Jackson, Clay, Steiner and Scott Streets. The City purchased the parcel for public use, the same year the house was built, and named it Alta Plaza Park. Twenty years later, John McLaren, esteemed designer of Golden Gate Park, transformed the rocky hillsides into the Jewel in the Crown of the San Francisco neighborhood park system, beloved for its stunning views. Alta Plaza served as a refuge for residents displaced by the 1906 Earthquake and Fire and a place of calm after the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake and the 2020 Coronavirus Pandemic.

It appears that 2640 Jackson Street was one of the first residences built on the block. Other palatial homes now grace the park’s boundaries, including the 1895 Italian Renaissance mansion next door designed by the legendary architect of the era, Willis Polk.

In 1916, the 2nd owner undertook a substantial revision of 2640 Jackson to its current configuration as an elegant Edwardian, with nineteen rooms and eight baths. With Edward Eyestone Young, a prominent San Francisco architect, and Matthew A. Little, contractor, the front entrance was moved to the side, the Victorian facade was replaced with brick veneer, and the attic was developed into a fourth floor. A dramatic Foyer, with a sweeping staircase and elegant details, was added, along with intricate molding and wainscoting throughout all the rooms. Ceilings were lowered from heights of 16 and 19 feet, allowing for electrification and additional plumbing throughout the entire residence. In the current Dining Room, portions of the original molded Victorian ceiling can still be seen in the crawl space above the room.

Home to many joyous family celebrations, brilliant soirees as well as philanthropic and social events over the 19th and 20th centuries, 2640 Jackson is now poised for its 21st Century re-incarnation as one of the City’s most exquisite gems in the heart of Pacific Heights- one of the world’s most desirable luxury enclaves…