A Hillside Architectural Landmark
36–52 Calhoun Terrace is one of San Francisco’s most extraordinary and architecturally significant residential properties — a rare hillside apartment building cascading down the eastern slope of iconic Telegraph Hill with sweeping bay and city views, remarkable privacy, and a storied artistic and cultural history. Originally constructed in the late 1930s as the “Hoeffler Building,” the property is believed to be unlike any other in San Francisco, designed to step dramatically down the hillside in the manner of a Swiss mountainside apartment building.
Distinct Residences & Panoramic Outdoor Living
Positioned along the secluded and picturesque Lower Calhoun Terrace — a hidden WPA-era street hidden off the end of Union Street — the building comprises eleven residences, each with its own distinct character, private entrance or direct street relationship, and outdoor space overlooking the bay, waterfront, and downtown skyline. Several residences feature very expansive decks, while every unit enjoys private outdoor space and exceptional natural light.
Historic Legacy & Artistic Significance
The property occupies a singular place in San Francisco history. During 1939–1940, legendary artists Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo resided in Unit 42. During this period, Rivera created his celebrated fresco, Pan American Unity, now associated with City College of San Francisco, among others. The building has since appeared in numerous photographs, artworks, and films, including the 1952 noir classic The Sniper.
A Private Urban Sanctuary
Neighboring the only other building on lower Callhoun Terrace, the historic Kahn House by renowned architect Richard Neutra, 36–52 Calhoun Terrace occupies an exceptionally private and tranquil setting without traffic noise rarely found in an urban environment. Hidden from the street grid and surrounded by mature vegetation and dramatic topography, the property offers an atmosphere more evocative of a European hillside village than a major American city.
Additional building features include
Central steam heat, shared laundry facilities, EV charging capability under the control of one tenant who shares, storage areas, and an exceptionally rare residential environment that feels suspended above the city and bay below.