This Epic San Francisco Estate Takes Up an Entire City Block

Considering this San Francisco mansion takes up an entire city block in the most expensive urban real estate market in the country — one of the largest private lots in the Bay Area — and is a compound comprising four separate residences around a sculpture garden, it’s actually kind of a steal at $12.5 million.

The estate at 47 Chenery Street in Glen Park sits on a 24,624-square-foot lot — just south of most-expensive-list neighborhoods Noe Valley and Bernal Heights, where real estate listings fetch nearly $1,400 per square foot in 2017 according to Curbed — with one five-bedroom and five bathroom main house, two (2) two-bedroom and two-bathroom units plus a one-bedroom unit with loft and in-law. Plus parking for up to 15 cars, in the city where some enterprising real estate investors are buying up entire streets just to charge for parking.

Even the detailed real estate listing for the property doesn’t begin to do it justice: this is a marvel of urban decadence in decades gone by — with a story to match.

According to 47CheneryHouse.com, this “quintessential San Francisco property” was built by Robert Pritikin, a former advertising executive and author of Christ Was an Ad Man. In 1977, Mr. Pritikin opened up the legendary Mansion Hotel in Pacific Heights, reportedly host to Barbara Streisand and Robert Kennedy Jr., amongst others. In 1987, he built Chenery House, which has played host to a number of notable San Francisco events over the years and guests ranging from Carol Channing, Mickey Rooney and Liberace to Mayor Willie Brown, Senator Dianne Feinstein and other political figures.

But really, can we talk about that pool and all that fine art. From the neo-classical roof deck of the main house, a retractable roof allows residents and guests to lounge in a lost era decadent style (that brings to mind Evan Rachel Wood’s scenes as the queen of the vampires in True Blood), while taking in panoramic views of downtown San Francisco in nearly every direction.

Watch the drone-captured aerial video house tour (above) for, as PopSugar called it, “one of those listings you have to see to believe.”