Between Clayton Street and Corbett Avenue in Twin Peaks, there’s a classic San Francisco scene: myriad buildings, houses, stairways and gardens stacked along a hillside, the iconic Sutro Tower hovering overhead. Among these jewel box-like structures is 501 Corbett Ave.
Nicknamed “the Tree House,” this historic cottage is for sale now, asking $899,000.
The Tree House was originally built in 1913, which means it is among the earliest homes built in this area. In 1880, Adolph Sutro bought land ranging from the Inner Sunset to Mount Davidson and proceeded to plant it with eucalyptus trees. Sutro “created a huge forest in the middle of San Francisco,” wrote Richard Brandi of FoundSF. “The forest might have been turned into rows of tightly packed houses on rectangular street grids, with little regard for the contours of the land, had it not been for Sutro’s long stewardship — a stewardship marked by farms and fires — and the twenty-year probate after his death,” Brandi wrote.
The Twin Peaks neighborhood was not an easy one to develop. Early photos of Twin Peaks and Clarendon Heights (which is now the neighborhood tucked under Twin Peaks) posted on OpenSFHistory show how sparsely the area was developed at the turn of the century, due to the vertiginous quality of much of the neighborhood. According to the SF Examiner, it was not until after World War II that architects no longer considered these steep hills an obstacle (especially with the incredible city and water views as a payoff), and the real housing boom for this area took off.
The Tree House certainly offers those famous views. The entire back side of the 699-square-foot cottage looks out over sweeping south- and west-facing vistas. From the dining area, the windows afford unobstructed views of the city, from the dense and colorful neighborhoods to the towers of San Francisco’s downtown, to the bay and mountains beyond. The cottage’s single bedroom, with its wall of glass and Juliet balcony, takes full advantage of this postcard-ready setting.
Though it is modest in size, 501 Corbett Ave. feels spacious, likely due to the vaulted ceilings, skylights set over the living room, and generous use of glass that allows the stunning scenery to become part of the home’s interior. There are also modern innovations that help bring this historic property forward to meet the needs of contemporary living. The kitchen, with a gas stove and upgraded appliances, serves today’s cooks. In the single bathroom, which the official listing calls “spa-inspired,” the green-tiled tub and shower features a clever cut out through which those classic SF views are yet again visible.
Despite being so centrally located, the home offers exceptional privacy in that it does not open to a street. Instead, its entrance is located along the Iron Alley Stairway, which is one of San Francisco’s 900 public stairways, according to listing agent Leah Johnson of City Real Estate. The Iron Alley Stairway is also one of the steepest stairways in the city — and this stairway is the only access to the home.
“It’s a unique place,” Johnson acknowledged in an email. “There are 59 stairs to the property. The upside is the breathtaking view and the privacy and secrecy of being off the street.”
The last time 501 Corbett Ave. sold was over 20 years ago, when it traded hands for $629,000 in 2004.