Sitting up high on Telegraph Hill, the Mediterranean manse Villa de Martini first appeared on the market last May, when it charmed us with its formal European-style gardens and Tesla charging station. Those attributes haven't, however, been enough to find the four-bedroom, five-bathroom property a buyer. Since listing for $16 million, it has undergone a series of price cuts; the most recent, a $1.888 million chop, shaved the equivalent of about 10 Teslas off the price. Villa de Martini now is looking for just $13 million. Its also recently received a new set of listing photos that better show off its dramatic style.
Villa de Martini was built back in 1929 and is a one-of-a-kind property in the city. From the pillared entryway to the stone carvings, it feels more like an Italian villa than a San Francisco mansion. Other details include hand-painted palazzo ceilings, Venetian hand-plastered walls, and inlaid hardwood floors. The grounds include travertine stone patios, olive trees, lemon trees, and roses. The villa underwent a fairly recent renovation, which is when the Tesla station went in, we imagine. So why can't the Villa de Martini find a buyer? Perhaps its uniqueness is part of its problem, coupled with its very expensive price. The villa is only 6,166 square feet, meaning that even after its big price chop it's looking for a mindboggling $2,108 per square.
· Telegraph Hill Home Lists for $16M, Has Tesla Charging Station [Curbed SF]
· 298 Chestnut [Official Site]