Historic Home in St. Francis Wood Clears Hurdles to Become a Showcase
St. Francis Wood is renowned and sometimes feared in the building community for strict restoration codes and an expensive, time-consuming process to get exterior projects approved. Homeowners Noreen and Mike Heavey bought this home in August of 2002 and spent about 26 months from the date of purchase to wind their way through the process before they could move in.
The home, located at 250 Santa Paula, was designed and built in the 1920s by Angus McSweeney, a San Francisco architect, who is credited with having collaborated on one of the first designs of St. Mary’s Cathedral and for designing high rise apartment buildings in Russian Hill and Nob Hill. After McSweeny and his family moved out, a local attorney purchased it and later left the property vacant for over 25 years.
The Heavey’s bought the home (which at that point had become dilapidated) at a probate sale for over $900k and knew they had to put in well over $1million in construction to make it livable and up to a high standard of quality for their family.
Once one purchases a property in St. Francis Wood, the owner become a member of the home owners association and agrees to follow the strict guidelines of the Covenants Conditions and Restrictions (the code was first drafted in 1917 when the first parcels of land were sold, and renegotiated in 1950) that govern any work done on the exterior of the home; including all details such as: landscaping, paint colors, additions, window treatments, fences, materials used, and any remodeling effort that can be seen by neighbors.
A lengthy approval process ensues. For the Heavey’s that meant three rounds of drawings and approvals from neighbors as well as the St. Francis Homes Association. The board and the architectural committee rejected the first two proposals; and the third was the charm. A local, independent architect, Tom Branch, worked on all of the plans. Meanwhile, the family lived in a rental property awaiting their new home.
The enforcement of the Covenants Conditions and Restrictions (CC&Rs) is crucial to maintain the architectural integrity for the home and the neighborhood, which boasts a curvilinear street plan that created a “residence park,” laid out by the famed Olmsted Brothers.
Once the approval was granted the construction process began and finished in nine months. It included: installing an elevator; putting in a in new foundation with reinforced concrete to make the home earthquake safe and adding a new drainage system to replace the dilapidated one from the original construction.
The process really forced Mike and Noreen to get involved at a higher level of commitment than most homeowners can imagine. The home still retains its original Spanish style, but the owners replaced the front door because it was completely ruined. It is now a comfortable yet vast home complete with every modern amenity.
At the end of the process, Petree Knighton, the St. Francis Homes Association president, who is a former city planner with an engineering and architectural background, wrote a letter to the owner drooling over the house’s remodel: “I just couldn’t wait to tell you how thrilled I am over the aesthetic of your new home. It is going to be beautiful and you should be very proud to have worked within our system to achieve such (a) magnificent home. … I am hopeful that you have found the extra effort well worth it in the end.”
The owners have now lived at the 5-bedroom, 6-bath property, which has two street frontages on both Santa Paula and Terrace, (another hindrance to a smooth project, but well worth it to be on the back of a gorgeous park) for over five years. But now that the kids are older, they are downsizing and the home is listed for $2,995,000.
Offered at $2,995,000
Size: 5-bed, 6-bath
Further Information: www.SantaPaulaAve.com [Katy Dinner]
Represented by Katy Dinner of Paragon. To arrange a showing contact the listing agent, your preferred Realtor, or fill out this form to get further information via San Francisco Luxury Living.
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Tags: 250 Santa Paula, Angus McSweeney, Katy Dinner, Mike Heavey, Noreen Heavey, Olmsted Brothers, Paragon, Petree Knighton, San Francisco Homes, San Francisco Realtor, San Francisco Realty, SF Real Estate, sothebys, Tom Branch
A selection of items from Diana Vreeland’s wardrobe will be auctioned by Kerry Taylor Auctions in London on June 25th, 2013.
Notable pieces include an Yves Saint Laurent Haute Couture ensemble, with Lesage embroidery, designed specifically for Mrs. Vreeland by Saint Laurent himself in 1986. There’s also a wonderful Yves Saint Laurent velvet evening jacket, designed in 1981 (shown above), and a Mainbocher coat.
The 2013 showing of artMRKT in San Francisco opened to a staggering 6,000 guests in May, and had to turn away 500, raising approximately $30,000 for artMRKT beneficiary, the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco’s New Acquisition Fund.
Following the presentation of the 2013 ArtCare Award for Excellence in Civic Arts Patronage awarded to Mrs. Diane B. Wilsey, on behalf of the San Francisco Arts Commission and San Francisco Art Dealers Association, the Opening Night Preview Benefit provided guests with first access to the artwork, elegant catering (including specialty cocktails courtesy of Diageo), as well as a fantastic performance by the SF Jazz High School All-Stars Combo.
Among numerous Opening Night sales, Brian Gross Fine Art sold a major Robert Arneson self-portrait bronze for $200,000, and Alex Meyerovich Gallery reported the sale of a David Hockney lithograph for $65,000.
For more information, visit www.art-mrkt.com/sf
Barbara Klein and Joel Goodrich recently hosted a small luncheon at the Fairmont Hotel’s elegant Laurel Court Restaurant for I. Dolly Lenz, the Vice Chairman of Douglas Elliman in New York.
Floral fantasy and color are the calling cards of the man behind society weddings and S.F.’s biggest fetes, says the Chonicle’s Catherine Bigelow.
Just last year we spotted Cate Blanchett in various locations around San Francisco during the filming of a new Woody Allen film, Blue Jasmine, and the trailer for it has just been released!
Jesse Draper has signed with 44 Blue Productions to take her online talk show, “The Valley Girl Show,” to television this fall and is developing a new business reality TV series called “What Women (Really) Want.” She recently shared her favorite Bay Area haunts with C Magazine’s Alyssa Fung.
The Johns got very, very Close at the SFMOMA Art Auction. They marched through the Marsh with Sherman, their hearts Welling up with love for art. On the Richter scale, this was big. Warhol big…
In celebration of the U.S. premiere of Christopher Wheeldon’s Cinderella, SF Ballet hosted a fundraising dinner on May 3, 2013, in a gorgeous tented pavilion masterfully designed by Riccardo Benavides in the Memorial Court between the War Memorial Opera House and the Veterans Building.
Inspired by the theme of the evening, many dressed in the most fanciful fairy tale gowns, while others went for a more modern look. Everyone looked absolutely lovely (not a wicked stepmother in sight!)
Here, with photos courtesy of Drew Altizer, we present our selection of the 25 most chic looks of the evening.
Rain Phoenix and Topaz Page Green recently hosted Unite SF Design at The Conservatory of Flowers.
The philanthropic runway show fused design, ingenuity, technology and philanthropy to raise awareness and funds to help feed children in the poorest areas abroad. The event proceeds will go to support The Lunchbox Fund, a non-profit agency founded by Topaz Page Green, Joaquin Phoenix and Balthazar Getty, dedicated to providing a daily meal to thousands of children.
Inspired by the Asian Art Museum’s spring exhibition, China’s Terracotta Warriors: The First Emperor’s Legacy, the museum’s Council recently presented “Once Upon a Time in Xi’an,” a lively evening event for families of all ages.
The event featured dancers, costumed performers, unique arts and crafts, and a sumptuous buffet bringing the fascinating world of China’s First Emperor and his world renowned army of terracotta soldiers to life.
The event chairs Alexandra Caban and Patrice Wilbur, with an event committee that included Midori Antebi, Alice Chang, Lucy Dathan, Christine DeSanze, Stacey Dobos, Marjory Graue, Elyn Kim, Michael Kim, Caroline Low, Linda Lynch, Kira Robb, Mona Shah, Elizabeth Warner, and Salle Yoo, created an amazingly fun and education experience for more than 600 guests!
The San Francisco Conservatory of Music held its annual gala on Saturday, April 20, 2013, in honor of legendary baritone Thomas Hampson. “An Evening of Voice Honoring Thomas Hampson” featured performances by Hampson, who shared the stage with Conservatory student singers and faculty. The most important fundraising and outreach event of the year, the gala took in $300,000 for the Conservatory’s educational programs.
Gala co-chairs Teresa Medearis and Trustee Barbara Walkowski pronounced the evening a “resounding success in every way” for the 250 guests in attendance. And the event’s co-chairs were suitably decked in regal attire for the occasion: Walkowski in a silk chiffon Carolina Herrera gown in vibrant red, and Medearis donned in emerald green taffeta by Monique Lhuillier. Trustee Deepa Pakianathan displayed her signature style in a black and white dress by Rubin Singer, one of Beyonce’s favorite designers.
Catering for the event was provided by McCall’s, Catering and Events and decor by Blueprint Studios. Wells Fargo was the official corporate Patron, with corporate sponsorships provided by Asset Management Company, Bank of America and CM Capital Advisors.
Osso Steakhouse (1177 California Street at Jones), a new venture from Jerry and Jennifer Dal Bozzo in partnership with Dante Serafini, recently celebrated its grand opening.
The restaurant offers a diverse a la carte menu featuring the highest quality of 4-6 week dry-aged tender prime beef with bone-in (osso) steaks, along with specialty offerings like Hot Iron Skillet Dungeness Crab. Great pride is taken in the extensive wine list.
The Dal Bozzos and Serafini are the same group behind other San Francisco favorites like The Franciscan Crab Restaurant, The Stinking Rose, Calzone’s Pizza Cucina, and the recently revamped The Old Clam House.
Osso Steakhouse is open everyday for dinner only, from 5-10pm. Valet Parking available for $10. 1177 California Street at Jones. 415-771-6776.
It was a “Mod, Mod World” on May 7th and 8th, 2013, at the Presidio’s Golden Gate Club as the Edgewood Fair raised $300,000 for the Edgewood Center for Families and Children!
Edgewood is the leading provider of behavioral and mental health services for 7,000 children and families living in some of the most violence-ravaged and economically-depressed areas of the Bay Area each year.
The event was put together by event chairs Kelly Anderson and Lori Shigekane, sponsorship chairs Susanna Holt and Courtney Giraudo, party chairs Sarah Semple and Amanda Valentino, luncheon chairs Mary Graf and Emilie Lynch, and Edgewood Marketplace chairs Amanda Rickel and Dina Wong To.
The UC Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (BAM/PFA) honor Nancy and Steven Oliver at its annual Gala on May 7, 2013.
The Olivers are best known for the Oliver Ranch, an extraordinary sculpture park in Sonoma County, where they have worked closely with some of country’s finest artists, such as Bruce Nauman, Ellen Driscoll, Richard Serra, and Martin Puryear, on site-specific installations.
Co-chaired by Carla Crane and Wanda Kownacki, this year’s event featured performances and productions by artist and songwriter Terry Allen; artist, writer, and actress Jo Harvey Allen; visual artist and choreographer Joe Goode; and the esteemed Pacific Mozart Ensemble. Artist Ann Hamilton, whose extraordinary tower provides an other-worldly setting for music and dance performances on the Oliver Ranch, was a special guest.
The evening culminated in a live auction by Christie’s, which includesd one-of-a-kind works by Diane Arbus, John Baldessari, Sophie Calle, Rudolf de Crignis, Andy Goldsworthy, Ray Johnson, Richard Misrach, and Lee Mullican. The art auction chair was Robert Harshorn Shimshak.
Proceeds from this year’s event will support BAM/PFA’s education programs.
We’re delighted to see that the Alex Chases Salon, run by the renowned hairstylist Alex Chases, has recently moved into a larger space at Rosewood Sand Hill’s Sense spa.
Designer Cedric Charlier recently visited San Francisco from Paris, to present his Spring 2013 collection at Barneys.
On April 25th, 2013, guests joined Sir Peter Michael of the Peter Michael Winery, and his son Paul Michael for a 4-course dinner prepared by Curtis Di Fede and Tyler Rodde, co-chef-owners of Oenotri, Napa. Each course was paired with an exclusive Peter Michael wine.
Proceeds from the highly successful evening and live auction benefit prostate cancer research at Stanford Cancer Center.
The USO-themed event was held at the privately owned Military Vehicle Technology Foundation in Portola Valley.
