Across from Dolores Park, where San Francisco’s Victorian homes and leafy streets give the neighborhood much of its character, a former church has found a very different second life. The landmark building on Dolores Street, once a place of worship, is now home to a handful of highly exclusive residences. One of them just changed hands for $6.65 million, offering a glimpse into the city’s unusual luxury housing market, states an online report by San Francisco Chronicle.
A church transformed into four homes
According to San Francisco Chronicle, the property at 653 Dolores St. is part of the Light House, a 5,300-square-foot church converted into four condominium residences in 2016. Its most recognizable feature is the slate-clad dome, which gives the building an unmistakable presence among the surrounding homes.The three-bedroom, three-bathroom residence spans multiple levels and combines the scale and character of the original structure with the privacy expected of a high-end condominium. Its latest sale closed at roughly $150,000 below the $6.8 million asking price, the report adds.The home had previously sold for $6.1 million in 2016. Over roughly a decade, that represents an increase of about 9%. Once inflation is taken into account, however, the latest price is about 22% below what the property would have needed to sell for simply to maintain its purchasing power.
A buyer with no connection to the expected name
The sale had attracted speculation that entrepreneur Garry Tan could be behind the purchase. Tan, CEO of San Francisco-based startup incubator Y Combinator, already owns another residence within the converted church.Public records show that Tan purchased his unit in 2024 for just under $4 million. The approximately 5,300-square-foot church has also been used by him as an event space, adding to the building’s visibility among San Francisco’s technology and business circles, claims the online report.But the buyer of 653 Dolores turned out to be the Chora Trust, with attorney Melisa Brower listed as trustee. The seller was John Nichols, cofounder of contact lens retailer 1-800 Contacts. Nichols and his wife had lived in the residence before deciding to downsize and move closer to family in Southern California.
A luxury market that remains selective
The transaction also illustrates the unusual rhythm of San Francisco’s current condominium market. While competition has intensified in parts of the city, not every luxury listing is automatically attracting multiple offers.By August, more than half of San Francisco condos were selling above their asking prices, while the citywide median condo price reached $1.23 million. Condo sales were also up 11% year over year, according to Compass data, adds the online report.Yet the high-end market remains more nuanced. Scarce, architecturally distinctive properties can command strong attention, but a large price tag alone does not guarantee a bidding war. The Dolores Street sale, closing below its initial ask, underscores that distinction.
A landmark with a new identity
The building’s story is now entering another chapter. San Francisco city records show that the former church was designated a city landmark last month, formally recognizing its architectural and historical significance.For its newest owner, the $6.65 million purchase means more than acquiring a luxury condominium. It means owning a piece of a building that has moved from sacred space to rarefied residential address—while retaining the distinctive architecture that made it memorable in the first place.Image Courtesy: San Francisco Chronicle