Glen Park Victorian With an Oscar-Winning Story

A 1905 Glen Park Victorian With an Oscar-Winning Story

Some homes have history. A few have it carved right into the architecture. At 264 Arbor Street in Glen Park, the words Helen Cottage are engraved into the newel post at the front stairs, a quiet signature from a house that has stood since 1905, a year before the great San Francisco earthquake.

The Approach

Helen Cottage makes an unusual first impression for San Francisco: a long driveway leading to a 1-car garage. A lovely front garden and a mature magnolia tree frame the entry, setting the tone for a home that balances original character with thoughtful updates.

Inside: Character Preserved

Freshly painted inside and out, the home opens with high ceilings, original wainscoting and beautifully refinished hardwood floors.

• Formal living room: Bay windows bring in western-facing light, with a separate cozy reading nook alongside.
• Formal dining room: An intimate space that retains its original glass-front built-ins.

Kitchen, Deck and Garden

The kitchen features a new stainless steel stove, hood and refrigerator. A separate eat-in area offers another place to gather, work or linger over coffee. Just outside, a private deck looks up toward a low-maintenance terraced hillside garden.

Upstairs

Three charming bedrooms, each with its own personality, including one en suite, plus a central hall bath.

The Updates That Matter

• New roof
• New fencing
• Garden drip irrigation
• Substantial lower-level storage area with laundry and flexible-use potential

A Remarkable Creative Legacy

Decades after it was built, Helen Cottage became the longtime home of Academy Award-winning documentary filmmakers Allie Light and Irving Saraf. Their film In the Shadow of the Stars, an intimate portrait of the San Francisco Opera chorus, won the 1992 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.

Life in Glen Park

Glen Park has a small town feel within the big City. Glen Canyon Park and the neighborhood village are close by, and the home offers convenient access to BART, bus lines and Highways 280 and 101.

Ready for Its Next Storyteller

After more than a century of San Francisco history, 264 Arbor Street is ready for its next chapter. To schedule a private showing, connect with Colleen McFerrin and John Esplana, trusted real estate professionals serving the San Francisco Bay Area.