Frank Howard Allen Signs Historic Belvedere Property

The Moffitt Mansion is a historic property with a rich past. Originally built in 1904 by architect William Knowles for renowned physician Dr. Herbert C. Moffitt, it was later remodeled and expanded by Willis Polk (most known for his work rebuilding San Francisco after the 1906 earthquake). The home once stood in San Francisco’s Pacific Heights district before being transported through the city’s streets and eventually by barge to its current site in Belvedere.

The ambitious owner responsible for this feat, which involved separating the house into two parts using an ordinary chainsaw, was Marin-based architect Norman Gilroy who bought the home in 1962 in order to keep the property from being destroyed. Gilroy was passionate about preserving the old buildings that represented San Francisco’s early architecture and set out to prove that moving the home to a new location was possible – and even made economic sense. Once the journey across the Bay was completed, Gilroy used original house plans and detail drawings to restore the home to its turn-of-the-century charm and elegance. Upon completion, the Moffitt Mansion stood proudly in perfect harmony with its new surroundings and has since become a part of Belvedere lore.

Today the house holds true to its original character and the exterior is largely unchanged from that shown in the historical photos. Inside, period details include large-scale rooms, hand-wrought iron, ornate plasterwork and moldings, a cherry paneled study and six fireplaces. The richly-detailed living room boasts pilasters, wall-to-wall bookshelves and glass doors that open onto the outdoor pool area.

Occupying the entire second floor of Polk’s added wing is a lavish master suite complemented by a picturesque veranda and two separate dressing areas, each with its own bath.

The large, level lot is located on West Shore Drive in Belvedere, which runs along the Bay in close proximity to outdoor paths and the Tiburon Lagoon. The majestic grounds feature a tree-swept front yard surrounded by manicured hedges and the original iron gate which was brought over from San Francisco along with the house. The back yard contains sheltered private gardens that trail around the house connecting the many outdoor features, including a pool, terraced patio, greenhouse, fountain, Koi pond, barbecue area and a three-car garage.

The Moffitt Mansion is currently listed at $5,500,000 and is proudly presented by Hazel Carter and Scott Carter of The Carter Team in our Frank Howard Allen Tiburon office.

For more information about this exceptional property, contact The Carter Team at 415.789.7752 or visit: www.fhallen.com/MoffittMansion.

About Frank Howard Allen

Since 1910, Frank Howard Allen has been a part of North Bay community life, providing the highest level of professional service while staying committed to giving back to local non-profits. Today, with more than 20 offices and over 600 agents, Frank Howard Allen is the largest independent real estate company focused exclusively on serving the North Bay. Voted “Best Real Estate Company” for seven years in a row by the readers of NorthBay biz magazine, Frank Howard Allen is large enough to offer comprehensive services and resources, yet small enough to provide extraordinary personalized care. For more information, visit: www.fhallen.com.