CHANGE MY LOCATION
A Julia Morgan ‘ultimate bungalow’
SEE THE LATEST ON THIS STORY
Related Topics: SAN FRANCISCO
)
Famous design: A Julia Morgan original is on sale on Vallejo Street.
SAN FRANCISCO (Map, News) - During her long career, architect Julia Morgan designed more than 700 buildings. The most famous was William Randolph Hearst’s castle, “La Cuesta Encantada,” in San Simeon.
In fact, Morgan designed several buildings for Hearst, beginning with the Los Angeles Examiner building in 1914, and including his hunting lodge and Mexican ranch.
Locally, Morgan — born in San Francisco and a graduate of UC Berkeley — was the architect for the Asilomar Conference Center. She is more noted, however, for the dozens of local homes she designed, primarily during the years 1900-30. Most of them are in the East Bay, but there are some good examples of her work in San Francisco.
Barbara and Robert Callan’s listing at 2820 Vallejo St., in Pacific Heights, is a classic, brown-shingled Julia Morgan “ultimate bungalow.” However, Barbara Callan thinks it is one of only a few Morgans with a north-facing Pacific Heights view. Most of Morgan’s San Francisco work was done on Russian Hill.
This home also is unique because it has been home to the same family since 1928. Now, after 80 years, the second generation of the family is moving out, with mixed feelings. “It’s been in the family for so long,” says Barbara Callan. “It’s filled with fond memories for them.”
What they are leaving behind is evidence of the family’s love for this home. A 1960s basement renovation added a family room, office and rear deck. Standing on the deck, it is easy to imagine decades of barbecues and cocktail parties, and guests marveling at the view of San Francisco Bay.
Other upgrades have been done with living, not selling, in mind. A workshop was added downstairs. The main living areas were maintained, not renovated, so the living room still has its original window seat and shares a double fireplace with the dining room. When the kitchen update was done, the owners made sure to leave the sink right where it had been, under a window with a Bay view.
It might be a stretch to expect the latest owners of 2820 Vallejo to stick around for eight decades. Whoever that turns out to be, though, should be prepared to feel right at home.
Hot Property
2820 VALLEJO ST.
Where: San Francisco
Asking Price: $4,900,000
Property Tax: $63,700*
The Property: Julia Morgan-designed Pacific Heights home, built in 1908, with three bedrooms, 2½ bathrooms, panoramic Bay views
Notable: In the same family since 1928
Agent: Barbara Callan, Robert Callan Jr., McGuire Real Estate, (415) 351-4688 (Barbara), (415) 351-4645 (Robert). www.streetsofsansrancisco.com
.jpg)
Comments from Examiner Readers
4:23 PM MST on Fri., Aug. 15, 2008 re: "Hot Property: A home suitable for a lifetime of memories"
Report as inappropriate
2:37 PM MST on Sat., Oct. 27, 2007
re: "Hot property: Built for a family that never came"
Report as inappropriate
Examiner Reader said:
it's good for someone to have lifetime memories in glen park but like anything else in life, things may not continue to be as rosy. instead of waking up to the smell of a good breakfast and a quiet neighborhood, you smell the smoke of gunfire or voices screaming for murder. such is life in the big city of s.f. humanity character changes and some turn into monsters. and they live right door to you now.
1 agree | 1 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
for health conscious..seniors..childern , the foggy mist of cool sodium chloride..perhaps laced with some windblown pesticides..offers san francicans..and those with respiratory problems better breathing..outside hyberparic systems..the eco climte flora and fauna are magnificent.breathtaking colors and creative in the match of flowers and vegetables on the wharf..the bay and its sea life and napa valley..are interesting for scientists ..and the hilly of san fran..are aeco walk for health hearts..or jogs.but you must work on frondlier bike reception for all those.great athletes..knowing how to use the gears on some of those spectacular inclines..it's not easy to leavesan francisco one you have been there..and the regions close buy are very magnetic in their appeal..
305 agree | 271 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree