Remember when This Old House helped turn a church/synagogue in the Castro into a home? According to an article in Sunday's Chronicle, in the 10 years since, it's been sold again, twice. The new owners are moving from a 1,000-square foot cottage. On the market for $1,980,000, it doesn't say what the actual purchase price was.
Writer Dana Perrigan also talks about two other former houses of worship in San Francisco. One sold four years ago, and the owners say: "I just love the space. . . It's got simple, gold stained-glass windows and a view of the headlands. Sometimes we push the furniture against the walls and have a dance party. We're very happy here." The other -- a house and church on a 7,800-square-foot lot, selling for $2,395,000 -- is still on the market.
We're a little thrown by this comment from real estate agent Joske Thompson: "In today's world. . .where you have so many young wealthy people, they want unique spaces. They want your sexy properties." What do you think? Is a former church "sexy"? Would you move into one?
Image: Kurt Rogers
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In a heartbeat.
This one looks like it could use a beautiful long narrow catwalk-like loft for sleeping / library / office straight down the middle, creating a little more intimacy below.
view FJ!!'s profile
I toured this place when it was in the market in 2002 or 3, and it's PERFECT - it's a masterpiece. You can't see the kitchen or the bedrooms and bath in this photo, but they're even more spectacular than the primary living space. > sigh < I love this house.
view rick@russianhill's profile
It's realtor-sexy, in the sense that buyers go all "oh how cool! oh how hot!" and start thinking with the little part of the hindbrain that fantasizes about living in a converted firehouse in the middle of a big city and maybe driving a Vespa and having torrid flings with opera singers and hot waiters at Italian restaurants. Fantasy life.
Assuming it has closets and I had the money, I'd buy it in a cold minute.
view wende in the twin cities's profile
After having watched all the episodes of its renovation on This Old House, if I has the money, I'd move in there in a heartbeat as well. The program and the owners did a wonderful, very high quality renovation of the building, plus installed a garage in the basement. If I'm remembering this right, the fireplace installed in the main space is a specially built Rumford type, designed to efficiently radiate heat into the space.
Maybe one day.
view John H's profile
I saw this episode too and agree that while not to my tastes, they did indeed go a good job of it though.
Sadly, I don't watch this Old House these days as I generally don't watch TV due to bad off air reception in Seattle.
view ciddyguy's profile
I like the high ceiling but those open beams seem nasty. It looks unfinished to me. Has potential though. I'd buy it if it wasn't in a big city (in my dreams). As to "sexy", sure. I think architectural details make for a sexy home. But I'm weird anyway.
view boomer's profile
Going off-topic... I really enjoy Wende in Phoenix's comments.
Spot on, Wende!
view ethernaut's profile
I've looked at a couple churches for sale. I'd feel weird about living in one though. I'd worry about cultural appropriation and stuff, but that's me.
view JosieDaisy's profile