Noe Valley Victorian transformed into green paradise
By: Larry Rosen
Examiner Staff Writer
June 11, 2009
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| Sustainable: The home at 3961 25th St. in San Francisco is so green that it has its own Web site instead of brochures. (Courtesy photo) |
It bills itself as “the house with a conscience,” which does not mean that if you fall down its front stairs, it will feel guilty. It means that the design and construction of this Noe Valley home included a great deal of care and thought.
Today’s market all but demands that sellers trumpet the green features of their properties. Particularly in the case of large-scale remodels, buyers have come to expect a laundry list of sustainable features — low-VOC paint, solar panels, recycled denim insulation — to ease their consciences as they part with a different kind of green.
The team behind 3961 25th St., located two blocks from Noe Valley’s 24th Street commercial corridor, took pains to “be conscious from the start,” according to listing agent Matt Colvin. This included committing to environmentally sustainable practices during initial demolition.
Colvin’s team — which includes his mother, Suzy, who’s co-listing agent for the property, Joel Karr of Group 41 architects and David Kohlmeyer of Kohlmeyer Construction — recycled as much of the home’s original materials as possible. Old doors went to Caldwell’s, a San Francisco-based seller of new and used doors. The original floor was used as a sub-floor for the new home. Wiring was recycled.
“We didn’t just haul everything away to a landfill,” Colvin said.
Anyone wishing to follow the home’s rebirth was invited to visit developer MDM Homes’ blog at mdmhomes.blogspot.com to see photos of the property during its transition.
The finished product is a spectacular marriage of form and function. Colvin’s aim was to maximize the home’s utility, which meant such tasks as eschewing walk-in closets for a series of closets, drawers and cabinets, and employing great rooms for public spaces rather than using a floorplan of small, divided living areas.
At a recent open house, the Colvins handed out small informational cards rather than glossy brochures. The cards directed interested parties to the Web site, a small but significant example of their commitment to building green.
Hot property
3961 25th St.
Where: San Francisco
Asking price: $2,850,000
Property tax: $37,050*
The property: Completely remodeled Victorian with four bedrooms and 3½ baths
Notable: A seamless combination of green construction and modern design
Agent: Suzy and Matt Colvin, Paragon Real Estate Group, (415) 738-7018 or www.3961-25thstreet.com
* Estimate
