San Francisco's iconic pink mansion getting a major facelift after years of complaints

An iconic pink mansion on the coast of San Francisco is about to get a major facelift after years of complaints as the new owner plans to rip out the mountainside staircase and change the color. 

A lawyer by the name of Ed Dudensing acquired the Sea Cliff Avenue home for a $6.5million in February - a huge discount compared to its 2016 listing of $19.7million. 

After years of complaints, a 2014 FBI raid, and a mysterious fire in 2022, the new owner is ready to make some big renovations, he told SF Gate. 

One of the first big changes will be the removal of the mazy staircase - which has been described by some as a hazard - that leads down the mountainside into the water in the next few weeks, he told the outlet. 

'Some of the fire damage took it down to the studs,' Dudensing told SF Gate. 'But we’re hoping to remodel the interior while keeping the same footprint and Spanish style.' 

Another major change to the 1925 six-bedroom home: It won't be pink anymore once Dudensing is done with it! 

The 7,000-square-foot home will soon be painted off-white and match the neutrals of his surrounding neighbors, which include the like of former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey and businessman George Soros, according to SF Gate. 

Dudensing is hoping his new neighbors will appreciate the remodel after the home has had a decade of complaints. 

'We’re hoping to make a good contribution to the neighborhood,' he told the outlet. 

The home's last notorious owner is a former real estate mogul and art scammer Luke Brugnara, a prominent figure in San Francisco's commercial real estate scene in the 1990s. 

The house, located in the city's Sea Cliff neighborhood, was first on the market for almost $20million in 2016 but was unable to find a buyer. 

Brugnara faced setbacks, including a denial of a gambling license in Las Vegas due to financial irregularities and allegations of making death threats.

By 2010, he was imprisoned for tax evasion on capital gains from his properties.

After his release in 2014, Brugnara received the controversial art delivery and faced legal troubles leading to his other conviction.

Brugnara was said to have stashed his hordes of stolen artwork worth $11million in the home in 2014 before he was jailed for seven years for art fraud in 2015.

Bankruptcy court documents obtained by SF Gate shed light on a mysterious 2022 fire at the residence and building code violations related to the distinctive pink staircase that leads down to the ocean and a private cove.

In 2021, the outlet revealed an insider's view of the six-bedroom, 7,000-plus-square-foot home, uncovering its enigmatic corners, concealed wine cellars, tiled terraces, and doors seemingly leading to nowhere.

The garage, where the FBI confiscated four crates of art in 2014 - with the elusive fifth crate still missing - was also explored.

Among the seized artworks were pieces by Pablo Picasso and 16 paintings by Willem de Kooning, along with the Degas statue, valued at around $3million.

Built in 1925, the property includes seven bedrooms, six bathrooms, formal living and dining rooms, a wine cellar, a top-floor family room, two fireplaces and pathway leading to a secluded cove where dolphins are often seen gliding in the waves.

Despite situated somewhat precariously on the edge of the rocks, the home is believed to be well secured to the cliff. The previous owners purchased the house in 1990 and lived in the property until quite recently.

The home's location alone should help the sale with unobstructed views of the famous Golden Gate Bridge, the Marin Headlands, Baker Beach and the Pacific Ocean.

Sea Cliff is a quiet and peaceful neighborhood with an emphasis on the outdoors and the stunning views of the surrounding bay.