Every man dies; not every man really lives. And even fewer of them live in Kensington.

According to listing materials retrieved from Zillow, the historic Vista de la Mission residence in Kensington is “spiritually known as an outpost for angels.”

“Privately nestled behind walls in the most desirable cul-de-sac location in north Kensington” sits 4110 Palisades Road, a Spanish Colonial estate constructed in 1929 by the Davis-Baker Company, a Pasadena-based development firm that set up shop in San Diego to develop the 115-acre Kensington Heights area with the help of locally-renowned architect Richard Requa.

With five bedrooms and six baths spread across nearly 4000 square feet of living area, the home would have been considered palatial for the time, despite being dwarfed by the mega-mansions that began to appear in La Jolla and Rancho Santa Fe closer to the end of the century.

Why live in a house when you can reside in a living legacy?

“Feel the tranquility and warmth unfold upon entering ” the front courtyard through “gorgeous wooden gate doors,” the listing gushes. “This sublime residence boasts a glorious great room with 15-foot ceilings, views, a tiled veranda leading to multiple patios, grassed areas, and a resort-like canyon private pool and spa.”

In a nod to the luxury of pandemic telecommuting afforded to much of the professional class, the listing boasts that “working from home almost feels like a privilege, with the option of a view office adjacent to the master suite or from the separate, private en-suite guest casita and large executive office.

“Don’t forget the wine room,” however, where “the wall length glass-doored refrigerated installation allows for viewing a 250+ bottle wine collection, truly a reason to toast.”

A “spacious kitchen boasts an expansive mesquite-topped center island, dual skylights, ample storage, walk-in pantry” and the requisite professional-caliber appliance suite.

The owner’s suite occupies an entire wing of the home, enjoying “gorgeous views, a fireplace, a walk-thru closet and a separate office/lounge area.” The bath “features tile and marble as well as an oversized jetted tub.”

The three-quarter acre terraced hillside lot includes “rear grounds that boast the estate’s original rock walls and dreamy walkways leading to a resort-style pool and spa deck, punctuated by sumptuous landscape and secret paths to explore,” including “wonderful exterior stairways truly out of a European fantasy, one of which leads directly from the master suite for that late-night swim.”

The home’s “new, exquisite boosted tile roof” adds a modern solar system “masterfully hidden from view,” while the main entertainer’s patio includes an outdoor fireplace and built-in seating overlooking Basilica San Diego de Alcala, California’s first mission.

“Immaculately maintained, this incredible estate is more than a home: it’s a living legacy.”

Public records show that Vista de la Mission, the spanglish name it was given in 1920s-era marketing, was purchased in 1995 for $680,000 by motivational-speaker duo Kevin and Jackie Freiberg. At the time, it appears to have undergone remodeling extensive enough that the effective construction date listed by the county is 1992 instead of 1929.

After more than two decades off-market, the estate was offered for sale in late September of 2020. Its asking price of $3.5 million remains unchanged to date.

• 4110 Palisades Road | Kensington, 92116
• Beds: 5 | Baths: 6 | Current Owners: Kevin and Jackie Freiberg | List Price: $3,500,00