In San Diego, a Documentary Filmmaker’s Longtime Victorian Beach House Lists at $3.6 Million
Just across the bay from downtown San Diego—on a charming isle best known as the site of the famed Hotel del Coronado—a historic residence long owned by Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker/psychotherapist Ira Wohl has recently come on the market for the first time in almost three decades, asking a smidge over $3.6 million.
Built way back in 1890—and affectionately referred to by locals as the “red Victorian”—the two-story dwelling lies in the desirable Golden Triangle area and is said to be one of the oldest surviving Queen Anne Victorian-style structures on all of Coronado Island. Three bedrooms and two baths can be found in 1,200 square feet of well-preserved and updated living space, all of it boasting vividly hued rooms complemented by fir floors, wide arched doorways, high ceilings, detailed woodwork, and the original doorknobs and double-hung wood windows. There’s an unfinished attic to boot.
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Steps lead up to a gated and ornately columned wraparound porch, with the front door opening into an entrance foyer displaying a vintage fireplace, as well as a powder room resting beneath a curving staircase. From there, colorful living and dining rooms flow to a small but modernized kitchen outfitted with newer stainless appliances, and other main-level highlights include a window-lined family room.
Elsewhere is an upstairs primary bedroom featuring a cozy window seat, plus a tiled bath equipped with a pedestal sink, clawfoot soaking tub and separate shower. Outdoors, the private grounds span less than a quarter-acre, and host an al fresco dining patio flanked by a grassy lawn, along with a lounging spot warmed by a stone fireplace.
Probably most recognized as the 1979 recipient of a “Best Documentary Feature” Oscar for his film Best Boy, portraying his intellectually disabled cousin’s journey toward greater independence, Wohl went on to produce the sequels Best Man and Best Sister, as well as People Say I’m Crazy, which tells the story of his own struggle with schizophrenia. He’s also a licensed social worker, and has been active in the Academy of Motion Picture’s documentary division and Coronado Island International Film Festival.
Last sold to Wohl in 1997 for $500,000, and listed by Whitney Benzian of Douglas Elliman, the property falls under the Mills Act, meaning homeowners are eligible for reduced property taxes in exchange for preserving the historic house.
Click here for more photos of Ira Wohl’s Victorian beach house.
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