It sits there on the crest of Pacific Heights, looking less like a house and more like a fortress of Gilded Age ambition. 2724 Pacific Avenue San Francisco isn't just an address. Honestly, it’s a massive flex. If you've ever walked that specific stretch of Pacific Avenue—often called "Billionaire’s Row"—you know the vibe. It’s quiet. Eerily quiet. The kind of silence that only comes when the neighbors include tech titans, old-money heirs, and the occasional entity that owns three other houses on the same block just for "privacy."
But this house is different.
Most people see the neoclassical facade and think it’s just another relic. They're wrong. This property has become a lightning rod for discussions about San Francisco real estate, historic preservation, and the sheer audacity of modern renovation. It represents the tension between the city's 19th-century soul and its 21st-century bank account.
The Bone Structure of 2724 Pacific Avenue San Francisco
This place is huge. Like, 12,000-square-feet-of-living-space huge. Built originally in 1894, it was the brainchild of Ernest Coxhead, a name that carries some serious weight in architectural circles. Coxhead wasn’t interested in the cookie-cutter Victorians you see on postcards. He was into the "First Bay Tradition." He liked drama. He liked scale. He liked making you feel a bit small as you stood at the threshold.
The house was originally designed for a guy named FDR (not that one) but specifically for the luxury market of the late 1800s. It’s got these soaring ceilings that make you wonder how they heated the place back then. The answer? They probably didn't care about the cost.
- Architectural Pedigree: Ernest Coxhead.
- Original Year: 1894.
- Current Status: Extensively renovated to merge period details with insane modern tech.
- The View: Uninterrupted shots of the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, and the Palace of Fine Arts.
The view is the real kicker. In San Francisco, views are currency. At 2724 Pacific, you aren't just looking at the bay; you're hovering over it. The north-facing windows are basically giant canvases of the San Francisco Bay. On a clear day, it’s almost offensive how beautiful it is. On a foggy day, you're literally inside the clouds.
Why the 2017 Sale Changed Everything
For a long time, the house was a bit of a sleeper. Then 2017 happened. The property hit the market for a staggering $30 million. People scoffed. Then it sold. It didn't just sell; it became a project for some of the most meticulous designers in the country.
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The renovation wasn't just a "paint and floors" job. It was a "strip it to the studs and reinforce it against a 9.0 earthquake" job. They kept the soul—the dark woods, the ornate moldings, the grand staircase that looks like it belongs in a noir film—but they added things that would make a Silicon Valley CEO weep. We’re talking about integrated smart systems that control everything from the humidity of the wine cellar to the tint of the windows.
I talked to a local realtor who works the Gold Coast circuit, and they basically said that 2724 Pacific Avenue San Francisco set a new benchmark for what "turnkey" means at this price point. Usually, when you buy a historic mansion, you're buying a list of problems. Here, you're buying a masterpiece that’s basically a new build inside an old skin.
The Neighborhood Context: Living on Billionaire's Row
Pacific Heights is a weird place. It’s the wealthiest zip code in the city, but it’s also one of the most scrutinized. When you live at 2724 Pacific, your neighbors are people like Larry Ellison or the Gettys. You don't just "go for a walk." You navigate a landscape of private security and meticulously manicured hedges.
The street itself, Pacific Avenue, is the spine of the neighborhood. It’s wide. It’s windy. It’s where the "Old San Francisco" money meets the "New Tech" money in a sort of polite, high-stakes standoff.
What's fascinating about this specific block is the density of power. Within a three-block radius, you have the Norwegian Consulate and the homes of some of the world's most influential venture capitalists. 2724 Pacific stands out because it’s not hidden behind a massive gate like some of the others. It’s right there on the sidewalk, daring you to look at it.
The Interiors: A Masterclass in Nuance
If you get inside—which, let's be real, most of us won't unless we're invited to a fundraiser—the first thing you notice is the light. North-facing homes in SF can be dark and gloomy. Not this one. The renovation opened up the back of the house with massive glass panels.
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The kitchen is less of a room and more of a laboratory for a Michelin-starred chef. Marble. So much marble. It’s sourced from quarries in Italy that probably have waitlists. But it doesn't feel cold. That’s the trick. They used warm tones in the wood to balance out the stone.
The master suite is another world. It occupies a massive portion of the upper floor. You wake up, hit a button, the shades roll back, and there's the Golden Gate Bridge. It's the kind of room that makes it very hard to be a productive member of society because you just want to sit there with a coffee and stare at the water.
- The Wine Cellar: Climate-controlled for thousands of bottles.
- The Wellness Center: Not just a gym, but a full spa setup with steam and sauna.
- The Outdoor Space: Rare for SF, it has a level backyard and terrace space that doesn't feel like a cramped patio.
Real Talk: The Criticism of These Mega-Mansions
It’s not all sunshine and Golden Gate views. There is a valid criticism about homes like 2724 Pacific Avenue San Francisco. In a city facing a massive housing crisis, a 12,000-square-foot single-family home for one billionaire family feels... complicated.
Critics argue that these "trophy properties" sit empty for most of the year. They’re assets, like a Picasso or a rare Ferrari, rather than homes. While that might be true for some, the recent history of 2724 Pacific shows a different trend. It’s been used for high-level events and has been maintained as a living, breathing part of the neighborhood’s history.
Also, the preservation work done here is genuinely impressive. Without the massive capital of wealthy buyers, these 1890s mansions would literally crumble. The cost of maintaining a landmarked property in San Francisco is astronomical. The seismic retrofitting alone on a house this size can cost more than a standard home in the Richmond district.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Value
You see the price tag—$20M, $30M, $40M—and you think it’s just inflation. It’s not. The value of 2724 Pacific Avenue San Francisco is tied to "replacement cost."
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If you tried to build this house today, you couldn't. The planning department would have a heart attack. The zoning laws, the historic preservation boards, and the sheer cost of materials would make it impossible. You are buying "scarcity." There are only so many north-sloping lots in Pacific Heights with views of the bridge. Once they're gone, they're gone.
That’s why these homes hold their value even when the rest of the market is shaky. When the tech bubble flattens or interest rates spike, the person buying 2724 Pacific isn't checking their mortgage rate. They're looking for a place to park wealth that won't evaporate.
Actionable Insights for the Real Estate Obsessed
If you’re tracking properties like 2724 Pacific, or if you’re looking to invest in high-end SF real estate, here’s the reality check:
- Watch the "Gold Coast" boundaries. Property values drop significantly once you move just two blocks south of Pacific. The "north-of-Broadway" or "on-Pacific" tag is worth a 20-30% premium.
- Seismic is everything. If you’re looking at a historic home, the first question isn't "how's the kitchen?" It's "has the foundation been bolted and braced?" 2724 Pacific had this done to the highest modern standards.
- The "Hidden" Costs. Living in a house like this means a staff. You need a property manager, a specialized HVAC tech for the wine and climate systems, and a landscape architect who knows how to deal with the salty bay air.
- Privacy is the new luxury. Notice the window treatments and the way the landscaping is angled. The most expensive homes in SF are designed to see everything but be seen by no one.
The saga of 2724 Pacific Avenue San Francisco isn't over. As the city continues to evolve, these homes remain the ultimate markers of success and controversy. They are time capsules of an era when San Francisco was first finding its footing as a world-class city, now updated for an era where it runs the world's economy.
If you find yourself on Pacific Avenue, take a second. Look at the craftsmanship. Ignore the price for a moment and just appreciate the architecture. It’s a piece of San Francisco history that’s been polished until it shines, for better or worse.
Next Steps for Research:
- Check the San Francisco Planning Department's "Property Information Map" (PIM) for the specific permit history of 2724 Pacific to see the exact scale of the 2017-2020 renovations.
- Look up Ernest Coxhead’s other works in the city, specifically the "St. John’s Evangelist" church, to see how his ecclesiastical style influenced his residential designs.
- Monitor the "Off-Market" listings in Pacific Heights; houses like this often change hands without ever hitting Zillow.