San Francisco’s Oldest Residential Estate Hits the Market for $22 Million
Russian Hill mansion, built in 1849, has two elevators and 270-degree views
San Francisco Chronicle article by Aidin Vaziri
A historic mansion from the Gold Rush era in Russian Hill, which survived San Francisco’s devastating 1906 earthquake and fires, has hit the market for $22 million.
Located at 825-845 Francisco St the estate is recognized as San Francisco’s oldest surviving residential property, with a rich history dating to its construction in 1849 by Capt. R.C. Ruskin, according to listing agents Stacey Caen and Joseph Lucier of Sotheby’s International Realty.
The seller, Brett Robertson, said that the house was reportedly built using timbers from a ship owned by prospectors who traveled to California in search of gold.
Spanning more than 13,000 square feet on a spacious lot, the estate offers 270-degree views that include landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge, Coit Tower and the Bay Bridge.
The residence features 8,440 square feet of living space, including five bedrooms and five full and two partial bathrooms. Recent renovations have preserved the Victorian architectural style while enhancing the interior’s grandeur, according to Caen and Lucier.
Spanning more than 13,000 square feet on a spacious lot, the estate offers 270-degree views that include landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge, Coit Tower and the Bay Bridge.
The residence features 8,440 square feet of living space, including five bedrooms and five full and two partial bathrooms. Recent renovations have preserved the Victorian architectural style while enhancing the interior’s grandeur, according to Caen and Lucier.
He also co-founded Francisco Partners in 1999, focusing on technology investments, and served on the board of Salesforce for nearly two decades. Jeanne died in 2018, and Sanford, who remarried, died earlier this year
Brett Robertson told the Wall Street Journal, which first reported the listing, that the mansion had a reputation for hosting notable figures, including Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton. Jazz pianist Dave Brubeck also performed one of his last private concerts there.
The main level features expansive entertaining spaces, including a grand reception foyer, a living room with a fireplace and view terrace, and a formal dining room that opens directly onto a garden terrace.
The kitchen boasts a breakfast area that leads to the terrace through French doors, along with multiple seating areas and a lap pool. A private library on the main floor is adorned with bookshelves and a bay-view window.
The estate’s primary suite offers views of the San Francisco Bay and includes an office, a gas fireplace, dual dressing rooms and a bathroom with views of the Hyde Street Pier. The pent-room features a sitting area with a wet bar and direct access to a roof terrace with panoramic vistas.
Additional amenities include a lower-level playroom, multiple task rooms, a temperature-controlled wine cave and ample storage. The estate is equipped with two elevators that provide access across its three main levels, one known as a “hill-a-vator” because it is built into the hillside.
