Bay Area Sweet Digs

August 20, 2008

One “Perk” of a Student City: The Opportunity to Buy a Frat House

I was surprised to see an FSBO (For Sale By Owner) turn up in the Chronicle’s Open Homes listings at the weekend. It was the first time I had spotted an owner rather than an agent taking out an ad in these pages.

But I’m sure there have been others, and I don’t see why more homeowners don’t take this route — it’s a high-profile, highly targeted way to reach home-seekers in that sweet spot that is Sunday morning, coffee in hand, browsing the open-home pages.

(You might think cost is preventing more people from choosing this option, but by my rough calculation the ad I’m referring to would have set the owner back about $200 — small fry if it helps sell your home.)

The home in question is 496 Gravatt Drive, Berkeley, a contemporary, 3/3 hillside with views and the potential for an in-law unit with private entrance. Price: $1,076,000. (Tel. owner on 510-295 4292.)

If I was going it alone, not only would I run this sort of classified ad (in the Chronicle, Craiglist, and other, more local media), I would put a big sign outside my home (with the caveat that interested parties had to call rather than knock on the door), and I would create a simple website for the home which would include comprehensive, honest information and lots of good-quality photographs.

student house One Perk of a Student City: The Opportunity to Buy a Frat House

Another FSBO that caught my eye is 2901 Channing Way (above): this enormous house near the campus has been used as a frat house and student accommodation. It’s an elegant Craftsman home designed by Julia Morgan, marred not a little by the ugly concrete wall built in front of its facade. Price: $2,100,000.

thorse house wiki One Perk of a Student City: The Opportunity to Buy a Frat House One Perk of a Student City: The Opportunity to Buy a Frat House

Seeing this listing reminded me that I recently discovered that one of the few houses in northern California designed by renowned architects Greene & Greene is the William R. Thorsen house (above) on Piedmont Avenue in Berkeley — which is also being used as a fraternity house.

I wonder what the famous Pasadena brothers would have thought about beer-swilling students squinting out of the stained-glass windows and roaming the paneled rooms of this work of beauty?

[Photo credit of Thorsen House: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thorsen_House]

Posted by tracey.taylor on August 20, 2008 5:48 PM | del.icio.us | Digg

  • Courtney
    I really would like the phone number for the house at 2901 channing for sale. Please if someone can get that for me. I cannot find any info online other than blogs. I was at a game this weekend but didnt get a chance to write it down. Please email me with the phone number listed on the sign in front of the house if you are near and can grab that for me! Thanks!
    Courtney courtney.caron@sbcglobal.net
  • Jeff: You are very kind. Thank you for the insight and offer of the tour to Sweet Digs readers.

    I was so intrigued by your home that I visited it recently and am preparing to write a newspaper article about it.

    It's a gorgeous house and the residents do a fine job taking care of it.

    I encourage anyone to take up Jeff's offer. The students really will let you have a look around if you knock on the door and ask politely!
  • Jeff
    I am a student currently living in the Thorsen House. We do not call ourselves a fraternity, per se. We are the Sigma Phi Society. We removed ourselves from the on campus greek system (IFC) some years ago. We do not want to be associated with all the aspects of their lifestyles (ie: parties every weekend). We work very hard to keep the house in greak shape. Every Saturday morning, the brothers get up and work on either routine cleaning tasks or restoration/upkeep projects. Every single one of us has a great respect for this house. Any time there is a party, we shove guests into the concrete covered basement or backyard. We do not take risks with our beautiful home. If you would like to see for yourselves, you are welcome to stop by and take a tour with one of the brothers.
  • Frederickrc9
    Afternoon: The Thorsen house was mentioned in a blog that I am a member of. The blog focuses on the Arts Crafts movement so it was appropriate. A member had noted that the foundation was sinking and that there was consideable rot on the back side of the structure. I see from the images provided that "cosmetic" details have been taken care of but how about the bones of the house? Foundation? Structurally? Chimney's? Will the presenet custodians be able to afford those necessary by very, very expensive needs?

    Would hate to see a true gem lost.

    Thank you for sharing information on a true treasure.

    Rick
  • UCB Alum: My understanding is that the renovations of the house were initiated as far back as the mid-1970s by the then president of the California Sigma Phi Alumni Association, Jerry Barclay, who lived in the Thorsen house for four years while studying architecture at UC. I'm not sure but I think it's still a fraternity house but possibly only occupied by architecture students.
  • UCB Alum
    It is my understanding that the house is not actually a "frat" but a collection of architectural students who live in the house bound together by their mutual admiration for the structure. The statements by "anon.anon" are ones I have repeatedly heard by those who have lived there. They view themselves as respectful custodians of a Berkeley treasure.
  • Anon.anon: I am delighted to hear that! Thank you so much for alerting us to that fascinating story. It goes to show I should refrain from making stereotypical judgments about students. Thank you.
  • anon.anon
    Actually, the particular frat that lives in the Thorsen house is extremely concerned with the architectural details and preserving the legacy of great design. They take an amazing amount of pride in their house and its history, and have raised tons and tons of money for its restoration and future preservation. As I write this, they have just completed a full refinishing of all of the floors in the house (quite a feat, its beyond huge) have managed to bring the house up to fire code while maintaining all of the original paneling. They take it very seriously... I know it sounds bad to have a frat in the Thorsen house, but seriously, you wouldn't believe how much care, time, and money they put into it...
    I don't live there, by the way, just for the record! I've been through the house on multiple occasions though...
  • Jackie: I wonder. I wonder whether those frat students are all that concerned with architectural details and preserving the legacy of great design. Will they remember the place or the parties?
  • Jackie Aldridge
    The brothers would probably feel good about it. Living in a fabulous frat house is a movable feast, to be remembered the rest of one's life. What better use for great houses.
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