As far as we know, there are currently three homes for sale in Presidio Terrace: 6 Presidio Terrace ($10,900,000; reduced from $14,000,000), 28 Presidio Terrace ($5,380,000) which was designed by renowned architect Charles Whittlesey, and 34 Presidio Terrace ($11,000,000) which was designed by renowned architect George Applegarth.
And while it’s obviously an uber exclusive enclave, we really had no idea:
“The planned community was established in the early years of the 20th century, as a way to keep wealthy locals in the city after the 1906 earthquake, which shattered or burned much of San Francisco. Instead of moving to Oakland or other East Bay communities, they could have large, luxurious houses on large parcels of land in the city.
A 1915 advertisement for Presidio Terrace, which was developed by Baldin & Howell, touts the “artistic and elegant homes” that occupied Presidio Terrace. . . .
It is interesting to note that another ad, according to the Virtual Museum of San Francisco, tapped into anti-Asian sentiment: “There is only one spot in San Francisco where only Caucasians are permitted to buy or lease real estate or where they may reside. That place is Presidio Terrace.” Buyers had to agree to sell only to white people; more recent law and custom have, of course, nullified those restrictions.”
In fact, according to Forbes, “[California Sen. Diane] Feinstein’s own home in Presidio Terrace included a restriction that dated back to 1909. She claimed to have had the restrictions removed in 1992….” (That would be 30 Presidio Terrace which she has since vacated for a home in Pacific Heights). 1992? As far as we’re concerned, that’s only 83 years too late.
It is sad to see that people need to make themselves feel important by separating themselves from other people. I am caucasion and love my friends who happen to be asian. I see them more cultural then alot of “white” people I know who just like to eat “beef and broccoli” when they go eat chinese food because that is all they know. How sad people deprive themselves of so many different cultures. They are only cheating themselves.
Presidio Terrace is not the only area in SF which has (had) the ‘caucasians only’ covenant; Ingleside Terrace has it too and I suspect several other areas as well.
This is clearly indefensible. I wonder how front and center the policy was, though?
Whites only? Cool! Where do I sign?
yo chris,
try the john birch society…