Beautiful historic homes and buildings populate San Francisco’s streets. From the rows of colorful Victorians to large government buildings, it’s easy to reminisce on San Francisco’s history.
Now, a piece of SF’s history is on the market. The Abner Phelps House, generally considered one of the oldest houses in SF, was listed for rent earlier this year, but now it appears it is up for sale. The catch: this historic house is listed as an office space and has been converted accordingly.
The three-story house has five parking spaces, a small front garden, and totals to 3,800 square feet. The historic building is located at 1111 Oak Street, in the Haight, just off the bustling Divisadero Street and within walking distance from the scenic Panhandle. This historic house turned office doesn’t come cheap; the rental rate was previously listed for $15,998 per month or $191,976 for a year. Now, the house is listed at $2,995,000 according to LoopNet.
The building was freshly renovated in 2015, and the modern interior is a notable contrast to the historic style on the outside.
A long history in San Francisco
The exact history of the home’s origins is unclear, with two competing theories. An account from 1934 states that the house was built by John Middleton & Sons in 1850.
Although there is a more romantic story surrounding the home’s origins, in 1961, Phelps’ great-granddaughter stated the house was initially bought in New Orleans, then shipped to San Francisco and pieced together. This was supposedly done to soothe Abner Phelps’ wife, who was homesick for Louisiana. While there is still speculation around the origins of the home, a 1907 article in The Call– a historic San Francisco newspaper– states the house was built in Louisiana and brought to San Francisco.
The home has always captivated the interest of San Francisco residents. The Call wrote a full-page feature on the house, reminiscing on the history of the building. The article states the house did not always occupy such a bustling location. Instead, it was nestled on a 160-acre homestead at the foot of Buena Vista Hill. It has moved twice during its time in San Francisco, first in the 1890s to Divisadero Street and finally to its current location on Oak Street.
The house is built in the Gothic Revival style, popular throughout Europe and the United States, although it stands out among a sea of Victorians in SF. The house was designated a San Francisco landmark in 1970.