A former church at 653 Dolores Street in San Francisco was converted into four luxury condominiums in 2016 and recently sold for $6.65 million, which is $150,000 less than the asking price of $6.8 million. The three-bedroom residence spans multiple levels within a 5,300-square-foot building known as the Light House. Despite speculation that entrepreneur Garry Tan might have bought it, public records show that the Chora Trust, with attorney Melisa Brower listed as trustee, is the actual buyer. This sale reflects the selective nature of San Francisco’s high-end real estate market, where architecturally distinctive properties can attract significant interest but do not necessarily command bidding wars.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-12,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
In San Francisco, a former church at 653 Dolores Street, known as The Light House, has been converted into four luxury condominiums since 2016. One of these units recently sold for $6.65 million, which is about $150,000 below its asking price of $6.8 million. This sale reflects San Francisco's unique high-end real estate market, where historic properties are repurposed into exclusive residences while retaining their original architectural features like the distinctive slate-clad dome. The property originally sold for $6.1 million in 2016, indicating an appreciation despite recent fluctuations that account for inflation and suggest a 22% drop compared to what would have maintained its value over time.
Written for “Church Condo Sale San Francisco” on 2026-10-12,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Across from Dolores Park, where San Francisco’s Victorian homes and leafy streets give the neighborhood much of its character, a former church has found a very different second life.
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church → give → life
One of them just changed hands for $6.65 million, offering a glimpse into the city’s unusual luxury housing market, states an online report by San Francisco Chronicle.
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report → change → Chronicle
A church transformed into four homes
According to San Francisco Chronicle, the property at 653 Dolores St. is part of the Light House, a 5,300-square-foot church converted into four condominium residences in 2016.
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property → transform → 2016
Its most recognizable feature is the slate-clad dome, which gives the building an unmistakable presence among the surrounding homes.
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which → clothe → homes
The three-bedroom, three-bathroom residence spans multiple levels and combines the scale and character of the original structure with the privacy expected of a high-end condominium.
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residence → span → condominium
Its latest sale closed at roughly $150,000 below the $6.8 million asking price, the report adds.
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report → close → price
The home had previously sold for $6.1 million in 2016.
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home → sell → 2016
Over roughly a decade, that represents an increase of about 9%.
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that → represent → %
Once inflation is taken into account, however, the latest price is about 22% below what the property would have needed to sell for simply to maintain its purchasing power.
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property → take → power
A buyer with no connection to the expected name
The sale had attracted speculation that entrepreneur Garry Tan could be behind the purchase.
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Tan → expect → purchase
Tan, CEO of San Francisco-based startup incubator Y Combinator, already owns another residence within the converted church.
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Tan → base → church
Public records show that Tan purchased his unit in 2024 for just under $4 million.
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Tan → show → million
The approximately 5,300-square-foot church has also been used by him as an event space, adding to the building’s visibility among San Francisco’s technology and business circles, claims the online report.
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report → use → circles
But the buyer of 653 Dolores turned out to be the Chora Trust, with attorney Melisa Brower listed as trustee.
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Brower → turn → trustee
Nichols and his wife had lived in the residence before deciding to downsize and move closer to family in Southern California.
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Nichols → live → California
A luxury market that remains selective
The transaction also illustrates the unusual rhythm of San Francisco’s current condominium market.
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transaction → remain → market
While competition has intensified in parts of the city, not every luxury listing is automatically attracting multiple offers.
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listing → intensify → offers
By August, more than half of San Francisco condos were selling above their asking prices, while the citywide median condo price reached $1.23 million.
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price → sell → million
Condo sales were also up 11% year over year, according to Compass data, adds the online report.
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report → accord → data
Yet the high-end market remains more nuanced.
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market → remain → ?
Scarce, architecturally distinctive properties can command strong attention, but a large price tag alone does not guarantee a bidding war.
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tag → command → war
The Dolores Street sale, closing below its initial ask, underscores that distinction.
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sale → close → distinction
A landmark with a new identity
The building’s story is now entering another chapter.
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story → enter → chapter
San Francisco city records show that the former church was designated a city landmark last month, formally recognizing its architectural and historical significance.
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church → show → significance
For its newest owner, the $6.65 million purchase means more than acquiring a luxury condominium.
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purchase → mean → condominium
It means owning a piece of a building that has moved from sacred space to rarefied residential address—while retaining the distinctive architecture that made it memorable in the first place.
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it → mean → place
The Aporia
