The former Second Church of Christ, Scientist is an historic Christian Science church building located at the corner of Dolores Street and Cumberland Street, across from Dolores Park in the Mission District of San Francisco, California. Built in 1916, it was designed by San Francisco architect William H. Crim in the Beaux Arts style. The building was sold in 2012, and conversion into four condominiums was completed in 2016.
| Second Church of Christ, Scientist | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Dome of the church before conversion | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival, Beaux Arts |
| Address | 651 Dolores St. / 95 Cumberland St. |
| Town or city | San Francisco, California |
| Country | United States |
| Coordinates | 37°45′32″N 122°25′31″W / 37.758854°N 122.425362°W |
| Completed | 1916 |
| Technical details | |
| Structural system | Unreinforced masonry building |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | William H. Crim |
Building edit
Designed in a classical-derived Beaux Arts style, the building has a symmetrical facade with three doors, and large, arched windows. It had oak paneling and pews, marble steps and marble flooring in the lobby, and an organ that was brought from the 1915 Panama Pacific Exposition.[1][2] The wood-framed truss system dome is one of two in San Francisco.[3]
Conversion edit
By 2008, the congregation had dwindled to fewer than 100 people, who could not afford to pay for mandatory seismic retrofitting of the 1000-seat church and proposed demolishing it to build a smaller church and condominium buildings on the site.[4][5] After the city planning department recommended retaining the building for its historic value, it was put up for sale.[2][6] In 2012 it was sold to commercial property developer Siamak Akhavan, who had previously bought and converted another church at 601 Dolores Street, now a school.[3][7] The congregation moved to 2287 Mission Street.[8]
In 2016, conversion of the building into four condominiums under the name The Light House was completed. Three units of approximately 5000 square feet are within the main body of the building.[9] A slightly smaller penthouse was created under the dome, which was cut free and raised approximately ten feet to increase ceiling height and reveal the windows that circle the dome, with the oculus remaining in position suspended above the apartment. Akhavan himself moved into the penthouse.[10] The four units share a private park.[11]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ Vincent Marsh, "655 Dolores Street, Second Church of Christ, Scientist", The Resources Agency, Department of Parks and Recreation, State of California, September 20, 2006.
- ^ a b "111. Second Church of Christ, Scientist, San Francisco, Cal.—1905" (sic), Time Shutter, archived from the original on May 5, 2015.
- ^ a b "San Francisco churches finding new life as housing", KGO-TV, October 1, 2012, archived from the original on October 8, 2012.
- ^ Andy J. Wang, "Church Plans Condos, Preservationists Ready Battle Axes", Curbed SF, October 13, 2008, accessed June 22, 2021.
- ^ John Coté, "Urban Landscape: 5 S.F. churches languish in limbo", San Francisco Chronicle, [February 17, 2010], February 9, 2012, accessed June 22, 2021.
- ^ 651 Dolores Street, Building Trust for Life, archived from the original on October 14, 2012.
- ^ Alex Bevk, "Live or Work in God's House", Curbed SF, October 3, 2012, accessed June 22, 2021.
- ^ "Second Church of Christ, Scientist website". Archived from the original on 2013-06-15. Retrieved 2013-04-19.
- ^ Ryan Kost, "The story of the $6.5 million San Francisco home in a former church that can't find a buyer", San Francisco Chronicle, August 5, 2019, accessed June 22, 2021.
- ^ Adam Brinklow, "A Look Inside the Penthouse at the Lighthouse", Curbed SF, March 14, 2016, accessed June 22, 2021.
- ^ Jordan Guinn, "Former church now decadent townhome in Dolores Heights", Real Estate, San Francisco Chronicle, [March 12, 2018], March 13, 2018.
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