The former Second Church of Christ, Scientist is an historic Christian Science church building located at the corner of Dolores Street and Cumberland Street, across from Dolores Park in the Mission District of San Francisco, California, United States. Built in 1916, it was designed by San Francisco architect William H. Crim in the Beaux Arts style and is a San Francisco city landmark. The building was sold in 2012, and conversion into four condominiums was completed in 2016.
Building Designed in a classical-derived Beaux Arts style, the building has a symmetrical facade with three doors, and large, arched windows. It had oak paneling and pews, marble steps and marble flooring in the lobby, and an organ that was brought from the 1915 Panama Pacific Exposition.Vincent Marsh, "655 Dolores Street, Second Church of Christ, Scientist", The Resources Agency, Department of Parks and Recreation, State of California, September 20, 2006."111. Second Church of Christ, Scientist, San Francisco, Cal.—1905" (sic), Time Shutter, archived from the original on May 5, 2015. The wood-framed truss system dome is one of two in San Francisco."San Francisco churches finding new life as housing", KGO-TV, October 1, 2012, archived from the original on October 8, 2012. The building was designated a San Francisco city landmark on September 11, 2026."Planning Code - Landmark Designation - Second Church of Christ Scientist", City and County of San Francisco, Board of Supervisors, September 11, 2026.
Conversion By 2008, the congregation had dwindled to fewer than 100 people, who could not afford to pay for mandatory seismic retrofitting of the 1000-seat church and proposed demolishing it to build a smaller church and condominium buildings on the site.Andy J. Wang, "Church Plans Condos, Preservationists Ready Battle Axes", Curbed SF, October 13, 2008, accessed June 22, 2021.John Coté, "Urban Landscape: 5 S.F. churches languish in limbo", San Francisco Chronicle, [February 17, 2010], February 9, 2012, accessed June 22, 2021. After the city planning department recommended retaining the building for its historic value, it was put up for sale.651 Dolores Street, Building Trust for Life, archived from the original on October 14, 2012. In 2012 it was sold to commercial property developer Siamak Akhavan, who had previously bought and converted another church at 601 Dolores Street, now a school.Alex Bevk, "Live or Work in God's House", Curbed SF, October 3, 2012, accessed June 22, 2021. The congregation moved to 2287 Mission Street.
In 2016, conversion of the building into four condominiums under the name the Light House was completed. Three units of approximately 5000 square feet are within the main body of the building.Ryan Kost, "The story of the $6.5 million San Francisco home in a former church that can't find a buyer", San Francisco Chronicle, August 5, 2019, accessed June 22, 2021. A slightly smaller penthouse was created under the dome, which was cut free and raised approximately ten feet to increase ceiling height and reveal the windows that circle the dome, with the oculus remaining in position suspended above the apartment. Akhavan himself moved into the penthouse.Adam Brinklow, "A Look Inside the Penthouse at the Lighthouse", Curbed SF, March 14, 2016, accessed June 22, 2021. The four units share a private park.Jordan Guinn, "Former church now decadent townhome in Dolores Heights", Real Estate, San Francisco Chronicle, [March 12, 2018], March 13, 2018. Garry Tan purchased one of the units in 2024 and has used it as an event space.Laura Waxmann, "This iconic Dolores Park church condo sold below asking. Here's what it says about S.F.'s market", San Francisco Chronicle, October 6, 2026.
See also List of former Christian Science churches, societies and buildings Second Church of Christ, Scientist (disambiguation)
References