The historic Gold Rush-era mansion in San Francisco's Russian Hill neighborhood, previously owned by late finance entrepreneur Sandy Robertson, has been listed for sale. The property at 825 Francisco Street has entered the market with a price tag of $22 million, as reported by Sotheby's International Realty. According to online records, the mansion, known for having survived the 1906 earthquake, was bought by Robertson in 1986 for approximately $1.8 million.
Situated to face Alcatraz Island directly, the property stretches across 8,440 square feet with five bedrooms and a mix of full and partial bathrooms. The amenities include a lap pool with a retractable cover and a “hill-a-vator" that connects the two-car garage with the main living area. Notably, the outdoor pool is "especially rare to find in San Francisco’s luxury market," Joe Lucier of Sotheby's International Realty pointed out via the San Francisco Business Times, adding that "He swam in that pool every day," referring to the late Robertson’s exercise routine.
Built in the 1850s by Captain R.C. Ruskin, the home has been deemed one of the city's oldest surviving residential properties. According to the listing by Sotheby's International Realty, the residence is set on a 13,385 square foot lot. It is a private oasis offering "an elegant lifestyle for those who value privacy and the experience of high-quality indoor/outdoor living within the city limits." The views from the home span the Golden Gate Bridge to Coit Tower, illustrating the city's historic vistas.
The mansion was renovated in the early 1990s, led by local architect Sandy Walker and interior designer Paul Vincent Wiseman. The upgrade respected the Victorian architectural language while expanding interior spaces and adding a new pentroom. The San Francisco Business Times highlighted that the property includes "world-class views of the waterfront across all four levels, including the roof deck." Adding a domestic flair to the house, the kitchen, with its breakfast area, opens onto the terrace through French doors, creating an inviting space conducive to a serene indoor-outdoor transition.
The listing emerges when the local luxury real estate market appears to outperform the general market in 2024. Daughter Brett Robertson told The Wall Street Journal that the family is now ready to move on from the estate.
