RECREATION & INVESTMENT PROPERTIES:
Calgary family escapes to vacation residence within San Francisco
In a historic part of San Francisco known for world-class chocolate and views of the bay, a Calgary family found its sweet escape.
Fairmont Heritage Place, Ghirardelli Square is a 53-unit private residence club in a location that was once home to a storied chocolate factory started in the late 1800s.
To preserve the treasured corner near the Fisherman’s Wharf section of San Francisco, Ghirardelli Square was placed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
“All of the exterior of the square has maintained its original DNA,” says Andy Ardila, spokesman with property developer JMA Ventures. “Owners essentially own a slice of history.”
Last year, Chelsea and John Salvatore and children Chiara, Evan and Jonah were on the lookout for a vacation home when they read about the project in the Calgary Herald.
The first thing that caught their eye was the Fairmont brand. The family has vacationed at many of the compa- ny’s hotels and they made an impression, says Chelsea.
But what made their decision was the city, itself.
“We love San Francisco,” says Chelsea, a stay-at-home mom. John’s in the banking business.
“It’s a family-friendly, clean, safe city,” she says.
As a place to visit with things to experience, it doesn’t get much better than San Francisco. The charm and character of the northern California city was a plus for the Salvatore family.
“We enjoy all the different activities and festivals,” says Chelsea. “There are always lots of different events going on.”
San Francisco is also known for its restaurants and nearby wine country. Both Napa Valley and Sonoma County are a short drive away. Chelsea and John enjoy taking it all in.
“We love to eat out. It’s a foodie town, for sure,” says Chelsea.
For a place to clink their glasses, Napa Valley is about an hour and a half drive. But there’s also plenty to explore in town.
“There are so many different wine tasting bars,” says Chelsea. “At Ghirardelli, itself, they have wine tasting events.”
The family bought a two-bedroom unit at Fairmont Heritage Place, Ghirardelli Square. Three-bedroom floor plans are also available for buyers.
“You buy into a floor plan concept” says Ardila about the development’s fractional ownership system. “It’s a floating-use plan, so you’ll stay in a variety of two bedrooms while you’re here, if that’s what you bought.”
Two-bedroom units start in the $220,000s US and three bedrooms start at $269,000s.
Ardila says owners can rent out their unit to offset costs.
“You have the ability to sell it because it’s actual real estate ownership,” says Ardila, adding it can also be exchanged with other Fairmont properties all over the world.
“If you add up all the properties that an owner can exchange into, it’s over 200, so it opens up the globe in terms of your second home,” he says. “It’s not just specifically in San Francisco.”
The Salvatores like the flexibility and look forward to exploring Fairmont’s long line of properties.
The family has been to their unit in San Francisco three times. One of Chelsea’s favourite things is sitting on the balcony looking out at the pristine San Francisco Bay.
“It’s a great view — a really nice place to sit,” she says.
Most of the residences have “beautiful sweeping views of the San Francisco waterfront,” says Ardila. “I’m at the property right now and the fog is clearing up a little bit and I’m looking at Alcatraz and the sailboats that are right on the bay.”
The Golden Gate Bridge is about a five-minute drive away.
“You can’t get more San Francisco than our location. You really know where you are,” he says.
The Salvatores aren’t the only Calgarians who have fallen for the project. With convenient flights from the Calgary International Airport, it’s been a hit with many people in the Stampede City, says Ardila.
“Canada right now is one of our top producing international markets,” says Ardila. “Not only for the property, but just for San Francisco as a destination.”