Meticulously Restored 1938 Printing Press House Hits the Market in San Francisco for $1.3 Million

It is rare to find a place that is not only a clean private residence, but also a living work of art that stands as a tribute to past times and serves as a “sanctuary in the heart of the city.” And it’s almost unheard of to find such an apartment in a thriving San Francisco neighborhood—all for less than $1.3 million.

Yet that is exactly what a great artist offers Jamie Emerick in the form of his meticulously restored house, which, for years, served as a thriving printing business and today perfectly combines that heritage with the elegance and beauty of modernity.

The property, known as “Letterpress,” is located in San Francisco’s revitalized Mission District, where Emerick has spent 10 years living in the unique space, spending several of them dedicated to transforming it into a one-of-a-kind “small compound” that is now on the market for $1.29 million.

Emerick is a renowned artist who studied in Florence, Italy, South Africa, and the US He received an MFA degree from the California College of the Arts, and his work has been exhibited throughout the Bay Area and is held in private collections.

So it’s safe to say she knows a thing or two about beauty and design—knowledge that came in very handy in the renovation of 1315 Minna St.

The proof, however, as they say, is in the pudding, which, this time, came in the form of a solid offer sent to Emerick and his agent within days of going to market. Less than two weeks later, the property is “waiting” for sale.

The unusual “micro-compound” was established in 1938 to serve as the home of McCoy Printing Service, which flourished from the 1930s to the 1980s. The building was owned by the family of a World War II ambulance driver for over 80 years.

When Emerick happened in 2016, that printing business was abandoned, rotting away. However, he saw unlimited potential in this property and bought it for $1.38 million.

Where others might have been repulsed by the rusty, disorganized remnants of the printing business scattered throughout the settlement, to Emerick they were precious treasures.

“On our first visit to the place, we were attracted by the piles of broken pieces of printing, the worst marble slabs blackened with ink for decades, the small metal bullets scattered among the floorboards and wood that had been used, and used again, 80 years ago,” he recounted.

“Everything was in a pile to be taken to the dump, but we saw it like gold. The pieces of many stories were fascinating; the auras of life that lived in the space before, the original scraps of party invitations, ‘While you were out’, pineapple labels, invisible rust on metal shelves on wooden leaves.

“As a painter and mixed media artist, the intersection of the elements felt limitless, and the prospect of adding my own chapter to the local story was exciting.”

Emerick and his family remodeled and moved into a sunny three-bedroom apartment above the print room, replacing the wood floors, bay windows, and large deck. They remodeled the property to offer three bedrooms, a large great room, a modern open kitchen, and a marble tile bath.

They also got to work on the more than 1,000-square-foot basement, adding skylights, a sleek bathroom, and an open space where the creative and social magic happens.

“A lot of drawings and pictures were made, and the place became a welcoming place for many others to work together,” Emerick said.

“We hosted events, dinners, and volunteer building weekends. My daughter’s school community creates Chinese New Year costumes and props every year in the space, spreading green glitter that no doubt can be traced!

But the space gave Emerick something of his own in return: artistic inspiration.

“As an artist who finds inspiration from the spirit of provenance, the patina of daily life practices and the growing importance of old wood and stone, the richness of this space is consumed directly in my studio practice. I create furniture from old wood in the studio, but also many sculptures are absurdly balanced on both the literal and symbolic legs of history.”

Examples of that can be found in the tables Emerick designed from reclaimed wood scraps, and what appears to be part of a printing press.

And, most surprising of all, almost all unique and irreplaceable, re-purposed printing supplies are included in the sale, if the buyer wants to keep them.

“All the furniture, prints, antiques and ephemera are only from the family that lived and worked in the building. It feels right to leave it with the building if the new owners are interested,” Emerick said.

But Emerick has one big regret.

“Some of my favorite details that I’ll miss are the floorboards, the media table, the old telephone pole with a rusty bicycle frame hanging from the back deck like a childhood folly, the friendship with Mike and George who run the corner store, the light coming from the skylight,” he recounted.

Emerick and the listing agent Naomi Lempert of Coldwell Banker Realty agrees that the community is among the most valuable selling points.

“The Mission has become a vibrant, historic San Francisco neighborhood known for its cultural richness and energy,” notes Lempert. “Rather than having a single meaning, it shows a clear urban mix where you’ll hear Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog, and many other languages ​​spoken alongside English.”

It’s also a mecca for foodies, shoppers, and nightlife enthusiasts, according to Lempert.

“The food scene is equally diverse—from street tacos, paletas, hot dogs, and fresh fruit with tajín, to bars, independent restaurants, and Michelin-starred restaurants,” he said.

“Because of its warm tropical climate, central location, and excellent access to public transportation and major freeways, the Mission offers a strong mix of ownership and rental housing that contributes to its unique, authentic neighborhood fabric.”

In addition, there is an unusual amount of freedom in what the new owners can do with the building, in a city where restrictions abound.

Letterpress benefits from the popular standards of RTO-M, which opens the doors to many possibilities. Compact housing development, community use, live/work configurations—even multi-unit conversions and expansions are all possible.

“The expansion of additional units will be allowed, as it is used as a daycare and community center,” explained Lempert. “There are many ways a person can use a space – walk in and do nothing, or build it and modify it to suit their needs. It’s a blank canvas.”

With so many assets available, so many amazing fixes, and so much potential, you can’t help but wonder about the limited list value.

“Prices [was] to bring in people, to generate more donations,” Lempert revealed bluntly—a strategy that seems to be working.

“It’s a sacred place in the center of the city,” he continued. “The upstairs is tastefully done and peaceful, the backyard is sunny and inviting. The downstairs studio space is magical, with great volume and historic gravity—you just feel like cool things can happen here.”

Emerick and his family seem to have created a real paradise in this part of town, so why would they even entertain the idea of ​​leaving it?

“For me, this place is no different from other pieces of art. When something is being worked on, of course the work comes from the heart and soul, but when it is finished, the next job is to release it to the world,” he said.

“I’m so grateful for the lessons I’ve learned about the history of printing presses in San Francisco, and the new stories I’ve put together standing at the foot of the table-turned-press bed. And now it’s time to move on and find a new canvas.”