Welcome to THE LIGHT HOUSE, a distinctive, luxury townhome in the heart of Dolores Heights. The Light House offers a one-of-a-kind opportunity to live in the historic center of San Francisco, with world-class culinary options nearby, Dolores Park as your front yard and a place to call home that is as unique as you are.

Formerly a church, The Light House is a magnificent extension of the vision of architect William H. Crim, who created this neoclassical style building, with it's elegantly arched entry porticos, Tuscan columns, and soaring 30-foot cathedral ceilings. 

 
This incredible building consists of four amazing and truly stunning units of a remarkable scale, at over 5,000 sq. ft. each, unlike anything available in today’s real estate market.  These are the perfect homes for the discerning, cosmopolitan buyer who seeks to have privacy, a magnificent luxury home and immediate access to the best of world-class San Francisco.

651 Dolores Street ~ 8 rooms/3+ bedrooms, 3 full bathrooms & 1+ car independent parking - The largest unit in the complex, it features beautiful outlooks on the trees of Cumberland Street and incredible natural light.  This property sold in September of 2021 for $6,496,000 

93 Cumberland Street ~ 8 rooms/4+ bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms & 1+ car independent parking - Unit features windows on both Cumberland and overlooking the private park. 
SOLD:  September 2016. $6.100,000

 
653 Dolores Street ~ 8 rooms/3+ bedrooms, 3 full bathrooms & 1+ car independent parking - this unit faces south and is filled with light. It also looks out into the building's lovely private park for added privacy. 
SOLD:  March 2017  $6,150,000

655 Dolores Street ~ 4 rooms/2+ bedrooms, 2 full bathrooms & 2 car independent parking
Reserved for ownership by the developer – Not available for sale.
 
651 Dolores Features ~

This custom built, four level home has an 8 room, flexible floor plan with 3 bedrooms, 3 full bathrooms and a magnificent entry foyer.

There are many unique, original features throughout, such as walnut paneling on walls, barrel-arched plaster ceiling, brass chandeliers and double copper-clad walnut entry doors facing Dolores Park. 

The open great room features soaring 30 foot ceilings, an adjoining library/club room, office/wine room/media room, open dining area. It is overlooked by the master loft suite and a second huge loft space perfect for home office/library or maybe a music space.

In addition to the great room’s 30-foot ceilings, every level exceeds normal ceiling heights, usually 12 to 15 feet.

The Chef’s Kitchen is entered via the foyer by a custom-made, steel and timber stairway. The 15-foot tall kitchen features double upper cabinets, accessible by a custom-designed rolling ladder that conveniently hides into a separate pantry. The cabinets are made of Polylac- encased (a new European scratch-resistant material containing recycled glass) and has high end, Miele, stainless steel appliances and granite counters.

The separate island/breakfast counter features original steel beams and building timber elements.

The enclosed pantry can be customized for a wine cellar or other use.

Juno LED track lighting featuring custom designed track system made of recycled timber and suspension steel cables in the living/great room.

Energy-efficient LED lighting throughout the entire townhome.

French-made LeGrange Adorne electric lighting controls components throughout.

The three full bathrooms feature original exposed brick walls or concrete buttresses, grey limestone slabs/counters, with custom-polished river-stone, granite or glass sinks.

The Master bedroom has a step-out lounge overlooking the entire living area and a large finished walk-in closet with custom cabinetry.

The Master bathroom features custom-made limestone Roman tub and separate glass-clad walk-in shower

The original building timber and glass railing was custom designed for the 15-foot tall master suite level lofts.

Historic grey-marble flooring in entry foyer, polished new concrete floors in the great room and first level, and original and new fir and oak hardwood flooring in upper levels.

There is a large room on ground floor ideal for media/home theater/incubation area for home business with a separate entryway.

The third enormous bedroom on ground floor level can be used a variety of ways or even divided into several rooms.

Reuse of almost every architectural element; doors, windows, lumber, etc.

The first and second floors feature custom stained cement floors. The halls, stairs, and upper bedrooms feature original fir floors

There are ample closets and storage rooms within the townhome.  

Amazing arched alcove windows with original art-glass finishes.

The shared Zen garden, featuring sitting benches, organic vegetable garden, custom-designed sculptures, brick paving (recycled from the building), birdhouses (made from recycled vent piping found in the building), and new landscaping.

This unit has a large deeded parking and ample bicycle parking in the garage with 12-foot high ceilings, as well as a dedicated storage room. Direct access from garage into the unit.

Incredible location, across from the historic and recently renovated Dolores Park and within an easy walking distance of half a dozen neighborhoods with cafes and shops including: The Valencia Corridor, Eureka Valley, The Castro, Upper Market, The Mission, Noe Valley and more. Property is within one of the culinary epicenters of the City.

HOA Dues are paid monthly and pay for the following:  Janitorial services, landscaping, boiler system (hot water), garage door maintenance, gas & water on a per capita basis, common area ulies, building insurance & maintenance, garbage/recycling/composting and reserves fund. Dues: $1,100/Month

         Structural and Architectural Notes ~

The building was originally built with large concrete foundations and a steel-frame superstructure (using original Carnegie steel), with brick surrounding walls, concrete buttresses, and timber floor and roof diaphragms (all old-growth timber, the main floor made of real 2"x16” joists)... classic quality! 

Major seismic retrofit based on current engineering codes (plans available for viewing). The seismic retrofit included roof/floors anchoring to the exterior walls, all roof/floor diaphragm reinforcement with structural steel/wood, 42-feet deep micro-piles (using German SAS Stressteel specialty rolled-steel rods), and 8 lines of 45-feet tall steel frames, amongst other elements.

Townhomes are equipped with substantial double-wall soundproofing and thermal insulation feature (double 2x8 walls with 2-inch air gap, filled with sound and thermal insulation, with two layers of drywall on each side). 

Custom-engineered high-capacity invisible recirculating fan to keep a uniform temperature for the 30-foot main living and master loft areas, as well as extra thermal insulation between each of four floors within the unit itself, maintaining a comfortable temperature at each separate level.

Many original and historic architectural features, such as original exposed steel/brick/concrete/timber elements, two 15-foot tall arched original stained-glass windows (fitted with central mahogany operable panels), wainscoting, light fixtures, arched plaster ceilings, original building timber paneling and historic window within living room walls, original ceiling skylights, double-sash windows and doors, etc. 

Structural Design - Siamak Akhavan and HCSE Structural Engineers

Architectural Design -  Siamak Akhavan and Modifier 

Staging - Arthur McLaughlin and Team - Thanks you did an amazing job!

Note: Building was conceived, designed, and built by and for the developers, meaning every care was taken to create a near flawless design and construction. The developer will live in building for the foreseeable future, and maintain involvement in its maintenance and operation.
 
Showings by private appointment only with listing agents.  Continue to visit this website to monitor our progress and contact us with questions.

John Woodruff 415.999.9827

Marcus Miller 415.516.5760

Email: WM@WoodruffMiller.com