Pacific Grove, City of Homes #16: 138 10th Street

138 10th Street

Between Central Avenue and Doc Ricketts Row
4 beds, 3.5 baths, 2,469 SF on a 6,300 SF lot
Built, 1920
Last sold, 2012

This large Victorian was an early example of a now-longtime PG tradition: discrete apartments tucked inside older houses close to the bay. The house has functioned as both a large single‑family home and a three‑unit property, flexible enough to house extended family, tenants, or a home business.

Architecturally, the home is a large, two‑story with Victorian influences, a tall, street‑facing mass with multiple rooflines and a façade organized around vertical window bays:

The most notable architectural feature is the corner turret, topped by a conical shingle roof that tapers sharply upward from the main gables. Its polygonal shape, narrow double-hung windows grouped in pairs, and subtle wood trim give it a playful feel without overwhelming the house.

The home belongs to the early automobile‑era of Pacific Grove, when larger houses began to appear alongside the smaller cottages just a block or two back from the shoreline.  The home was later converted to a triplex (with two 1‑bed/1‑bath units downstairs and a larger 2‑bed/1‑bath unit upstairs) but retained the family home feel, thanks to the larger lot with a patio and off-street parking.

By the last sale, the home had been converted back to offer what many PG buyers value today but rarely find: a larger family home close to the shoreline on a large lot with ample outdoor space and dedicated off-street parking.

Three Things I Love About the Home

1. Designed for Drivers: Without dedicated parking, downtown homeowners must rely on street parking but, with this many garage and driveway spaces, a you’ll never worry about finding a spot:

2. The Turret: Beside visual flair, the corner turret provides a unique room pulling in light from three directions, creating a perfect perch to observe the neighborhood:

3. Versatility: The flexible layout easily converts between SFR and triplex, maximizing the potential audience for a sale.