Having hit the market in July priced at $16 million, as we first reported at the time, the asking price for the Landmark Presidio Heights home at 3500 Jackson Street which was designed by Bernard Maybeck and built in 1909 has just been reduced by $2.5 million (15.6 percent) to $13.5 million.

Commissioned by Morris Meyerfeld as a gift to his daughter and new son-in-law, Leon Roos of Roos Brothers Men’s Clothing, the 10,000-square-foot home is the largest Maybeck designed residence in San Francisco and features a plethora of original redwood walls, ornate fireplaces and fixtures designed by Maybeck, including throughout the home’s great room and adjacent office, formal dining room and study above.

But the kitchen has been modernized along with a few other rooms as well.

And yes, the red accents are historically accurate albeit freshly painted.

24 thoughts on “$2.5 Million Cut for Landmark Presidio Heights Home”
    1. Well the kitchens are always bunk. This is a nice one, if it’s going to be modern. Probably was updated in 1955, 1975, 1985, 2000, etc.

  1. I’ve always loved this home. I used to live on this block and, location wise, it’s just perfection. I can’t imagine why someone hasn’t snatched this place up. But it seems that buyers with money to burn want modern white boxes, and this place is just the opposite of that aesthetic. I’d move in as is and wouldn’t change anything except maybe the kitchen.

  2. “Money may want clean lines”, but money in Los Angeles chases historic masterpieces such as this residence and spends millions in preserving the historic character instead of fighting it. One would never expect to see a similar vintage Greene and Greene home in Southern California staged this way.

    1. I think the kitchen is fine. Especially as a current version of a utilitarian 1909 kitchen. What do you want? Acres of brown granite and “victorian” cabinets with curved glass?

    2. The kitchen had been remodeled extensively already. The original butler’s pantry and pantry had been removed as the kitchen was expanded. It was a nice, modern remodel. No better or worse than the white kitchen shown above.

  3. Beautiful home but yes, the kitchen really needs to be redone again. And the television above the fireplace? No.

    1. I’ve never understood the ubiquitous t.v. over fireplace. It just doesn’t make sense at all. For some reason in this room it really looks fine. Maybe the mantle is lower than normal, or because the ceiling is so dramatic – I don’t know. But the ridiculous metal wiffle ball in tray on stupid cushion coffee table – That whole scenario can go!

    2. My tv is above my mantel because there’s not really another place to put it.

      Victorian period homes usually have fireplaces that are the focal point of the room. You don’t want to put it directly in front of a window if there’s not a completely blank wall. Placing on a mobile stand would create a weird furniture layout. Do I love the look? No, but, often, it’s the least obtrusive place. I wouldn’t mind one of those mirrors that masks the tv, but I’m not sure the technology is there yet.

      If you really want an aneurysm, check out the tvs in the Ritz Paris rooms. Anyway, aren’t we moving away from tv culture? There’s nothing wrong with just binge watching Hulu on your iPad in bed.

    3. Eh, as long as it isn’t hung above the fireplace in the grand living room it doesn’t really bother me. I like to stare into that large fire when I stroke my cat and plot world domination without the distraction of a TV.

  4. The trouble is that the television is way, way too high for proper viewing. The new owner needs to create a special “home theater” room. Ipads in bed are fine, but what if you want to watch Lawrence of Arabia?

  5. Apparently, the red geraniums were specified by Maybeck, and have been in the window boxes since the house was built.

    Too bad the lot between this house and the Presidio was sold off and developed in the ’80s. It was a nice little “estate” and the view from the living room was all trees and nature.

  6. Members of the Roos family was still in the house then, or at least a widow. The Roos were honorable custodians of this architecturally most important house. Unfortunately, a Roos who was a physician died young while she was on a trip to New Zealand. San Francisco will be fortunate if the new owner is a person with taste and respect for history, and not some philistine who destroys this. I am in favor or property rights, but we need some means of protecting houses like this, inside and out.

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