Maxime Le Forestier's blue house on sale for $ 3.45 million

3841 18th Street has not finished attracting the curious and nostalgic: on Saturday February 29, the blue house sung by Maxime Le Forestier on the album “My brother” dating from 1972 will go on sale for the tidy sum $ 3.45 million. “The house has five bedrooms and three bathrooms, spread over approximately 300 square meters"Says Jessica Branson, the real estate agent representing the sellers of the house. “It was completely renovated in 2009, from the foundations to the new stairs. It is ideally placed, close to shops and schools”.

Built in 1886, the Victorian-style house has survived through the ages, housing a hippie community in the 1960s and 1970s: baptized “Hunga Dunga”, the latter brings together Vietnamese deserters, homosexuals and sweet dreamers. Maxime Le Forestier and his sister Catherine stayed there in the summer of 1971, at the invitation of their friend Luc Alexandre, a Belgian singer and actor. To thank his hosts, Lizzard, Luc, Phil and Psylvia, Maxime Le Forestier writes "San Francisco", which brings the blue house hanging on the hill into the collective imagination.

Amy Silverstein and Angela Padilla, the current owners of the house, knew the story of Hunga Dunga, and had vaguely heard of the song: “We knew that a folk song spoke of the house, without knowing the details of the words, until Alexis Venifleis, a young French intern at the San Francisco Chronicle, sets out in search of the blue house, which enters -time had turned green; one day he knocked on our door because he had found this famous house, and it was oursSays Amy Silverstein.

Hélène Goupil recounts Maxime Le Forestier's visit to San Francisco in 2011. (Source: Mission Local)

In 2011, Universal celebrates 40 years of Maxime Le Forestier's career: for the occasion, the artist symbolically comes to help repaint the house in blue, and a plaque is affixed on the facade to officially associate the address with the song . “We showed Maxime around the house, and we had a great time together“, Remembers Amy Silverstein. “Several of the people quoted in the song have returned for the occasion, and several times in recent years. It’s always exciting to hear them talk about their memories in the house.”Phil Polizatto, the“ Phil à la kena ”of song, has published a book on the community of Hanga Dunga, translated into French under the title“ C'est une maison bleue ”(Les Arènes, 2017) .

Since the formal identification of the house and its facelift, French tourists have not failed to make the pilgrimage to 3841 18th Street. “They are always very friendly and happy to be there. Some even just sing!“, Jokes Amy Silverstein.

From the hippie era, there is no physical trace left in the house, but his spirit remains present: "We raised our three children in this house for over ten years, and we will truly miss her.“, Recognizes Amy Silverstein. “Watching our children have fun, going crazy in these big rooms will remain our most precious memories. The house is really designed to welcome lots of friends and have a good time together.”

Despite a burglary in 2019, the house should attract many buyers, thanks to its size and location, in the popular and lively Castro district. Purchased in 2007 for just over two million, it should easily exceed 3.5 million for sale, according to the predictions of Jessica Branson. “We stay in the neighborhood, where the neighbors have always been very welcoming“, Says Amy Silverstein. “And we look forward to meeting the new owners.“