Astonishing Midcentury Modern Church in San Francisco Bay Area Looking for New Life as a Home

A midcentury modern church designed by esteemed architect Charles Warren Callister is on the market in the North San Francisco Bay Area.

Tucked into the exclusive Marin County enclave of Belvedere, CA, the angular 3,583-square-foot building offers plenty of conversion potential for a buyer. The former Christian Science church building is zoned as R3, meaning it can be used as single or multifamily housing.

“The church was completed in 1951 and has been in continuous use and ownership by the church membership since that time,” says Matthew Brown of Meridian Commercial.

After conducting church services online for two years, the congregation merged with another local fellowship, eliminating the need for two buildings.

“It’s in remarkably good condition and serves as a unique example of modernist architecture,” says Brown. “The church has been frequently published in books and magazines and recognized as Callister’s masterpiece.”

Among its modernist-era features are the board-form, concrete foundation walls and pillars; redwood and Douglas fir siding; and bright stained-glass windows. Several original light fixtures and railings are also found throughout the building.

While still very much a church—with its half-bath, pews, and podium—an imaginative buyer could convert the house of worship into a residence like no other.

“It could be repurposed as a stunning example of a midcentury home, with rearranged interior spaces to accommodate walls and rooms for a kitchen, upgraded bathrooms, and bedrooms,” Brown says.

The exterior landscaping lends itself nicely to a private dwelling and increases the appeal of the well-situated .23-acre lot— as does the structure’s close proximity to the downtown shopping district.

The church is situated just north of the Golden Gate Bridge, and the vistas are simply unmatched.

“Spectacular views of the San Francisco skyline and Angel Island are just a view steps away,” says Brown.

For a sense of the market in this small town, consider this: There are 12 homes currently for sale there, and the median list price is $7.2 million. The 94920 ZIP code consistently ranks as one of the country’s most expensive.

While this property doesn’t have a formal listing price, the median price per square foot for homes in the tiny town of Belvedere is $2,100. If that number holds in the case of this church, the starting price would be north of $7 million.

On top of that, the buyer would also have to factor in the considerable expense of transforming the sacred space into a home.

If the idea of a church conversion compels you, Meridian Commercial will be conducting a call for offers on August 31.

The post Astonishing Midcentury Modern Church in San Francisco Bay Area Looking for New Life as a Home appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.