Built in 1905, this turn-of-the-century Glen Park Victorian cottage predates the great San Francisco earthquake and blends original character, thoughtful updates and a remarkable creative legacy. Unique in San Francisco, a long driveway leads to a 1-car garage, while a lovely front garden and mature magnolia tree frame the approach. Freshly painted inside and out, the home welcomes you with high ceilings, original wainscoting and beautifully refinished hardwood floors. The formal living room features bay windows where western-facing light pours in, complemented by a separate cozy reading nook. An intimate formal dining room retains original glass-front built-ins. The kitchen features a new stainless steel stove and refrigerator, with a separate eat-in area offering another inviting place to gather, work or linger over coffee. A private deck just outside looks up toward the low-maintenance terraced hillside garden. Upstairs are 3 charming bedrooms, each with its own personality, including one en suite, plus a central hall bath. Additional features include a new roof, new fencing, garden drip irrigation and a substantial lower-level storage area with laundry and flexible-use potential. The home's history is literally carved into its architecture. At the exterior stairs, the words Helen Cottage are engraved into the newel post. Decades later, Helen Cottage became the longtime home of Academy Award-winning documentary filmmakers Allie Light and Irving Saraf. Their In the Shadow of the Stars, an intimate portrait of the San Francisco Opera chorus, won the 1992 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. Glen Park has a small town feel within the big City, just minutes from Glen Canyon Park and the neighborhood village. The home is close to BART and bus lines, with easy access to 280 and 101. After more than a century of San Francisco history, 264 Arbor Street is ready for its next storyteller.
