Converted San Francisco fire station asks for $8m

San Francisco is dotted with historic firehouses built after the Great Fire of 1849, which destroyed over a third of the city. As time and technologies have evolved, many of these impressive industrial buildings have gone on to find second lives as bars, offices and private homes – like Engine Co. No. 44 at 3816 22nd Street.

The five-bedroom residence is for sale via Claudia Siege of Compass for $7.95m and dates from 1907, when it was constructed by the McSheehy Brothers in a Mission Revival style. The fire station serviced the Noe Valley and Castro Districts at a time when fire engines were pulled by horses, and the building’s dual copper doors are a throwback to this time, originally the entrance to the stables.

Engine Co. No. 44 was operational until 1958 and was sold a year later to artists Beth Van Hoesen and Mark Adams, who converted it into a private residence, art studios and a salon for the local art community. After almost 50 years under their custodianship, it sold again in 2007 and was extensively renovated with the addition of a detached garden room, gym, elevators and a roof terrace with Bay views.

Skylights now drill light down through four levels of the 6,012 sq ft property, while its six bathrooms and the chef’s kitchen were remodelled.

Take a tour in the gallery.