If you are familiar with the West Portal neighborhood, you’re definitely familiar with Arden Woods, the castle-like building surrounded by open space that rises high above the rest of the neighborhood.

The San Francisco Business Times is reporting today that they are selling a 4.6 acre chunk of that open space and expecting to sell to a developer who will build up to 200 units of housing.

The 4.6 acres to be sold is zoned to allow for up to 200 condos. It’s part of the lush 12.3-acre gated Arden Woods, which opened in 1930 as the Christian Science Benevolence Association on the Pacific Coast. The organization that owns it, Arden Woods Inc., describes the property on its web site as a “haven for spiritual renewal for students of Christian Science.” The campus offers nursing care, senior rental residences and boasts “lovely meals, beautiful gardens, woodland paths, fully-equipped libraries, and metaphysical talks.”

Arden Woods’ land runs along Wawona Street, between 16th and 19th avenues. The area that would be sold to a developer lies between the main building, a historic landmark, and 19th Avenue. There is a service road onto the property from 19th Avenue.

“It’s a very, very unique piece of property in the city. We have interest from a broad range of developers, both local and national,” said Nelson. “It’s hard to say what would work. It could be townhouses or condos or frankly somebody might buy it and put up their own mansion.”

Under the residential zoning, which allows one unit of housing per 1,000 square feet, a developer could potentially build 200 condos on the site. But District 7 Supervisor Sean Elsbernd stressed that whatever is developed would have to retain the character and feel of West Portal, which is home to 2,200 single-family houses. At the same time, Elsbernd said the land would lend itself to smart-growth, transit-oriented housing because it’s a quick walk from the downtown West Portal Muni Metro station, serviced by the K and the M lines.

Brokers said it would be difficult to project what the land will sell for because nothing like it has come on the market in recent memory.

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