Just over two years ago, Zynga founder Mark Pincus and wife Ali Pincus, founder of One Kings Lane, bought a stunning seven-bedroom Dutch Colonial home on San Francisco's most prestigious street. The Pacific Avenue Billionaires' Row house had been in the same family since it was built in 1907, and as soon as it hit the market the Pincuses snapped it up for $16 million. Zynga's fortunes have continued to fall since then, and the home landed back on the market this morning asking $18 million. The Pincuses appear to have done no renovating since they bought the place, and it is being sold unstaged and looking a bit desolate inside, as if it hasn't been lived in for some time.
The house itself is, of course, extraordinary, although very, very un-modernized. Its wood craftsmanship, by architect Albert L. Farr, is chock-full of intricate details (hey there, mushroom-shaped seating alcove), and the period lighting is truly unique. The home's original owner built it right after the 1906 earthquake and thought that a New England-style house would better survive future quakes. All told, the 11,500-square-foot spread has seven bedrooms, six bathrooms (plus four half baths), half a dozen fireplaces, an elevator, a motorcourt, and something that's referred to as the "Captain's Room." Yet there doesn't appear to be a modern kitchen, and the photos don't give any indication of what state the bathrooms are in. With the Pincuses on their way out of Billionaire's Row (if they ever resided there at all?), who will be the next occupant of the storied street?
· 2950 Pacific Avenue [SF Properties]
· Zynga Founder Mark Pincus Shells Out $16M For Pacific Heights Mega-House [Curbed SF]
· Up this Long Driveway is a $16.5M Home Perched Atop Billionaire's Row [Curbed SF]
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