Even in one of San Francisco’s wealthiest neighbourhoods, money cannot always buy peace and quiet. Jack Dorsey, the Twitter co-founder and chief executive of fintech company Block, has spent nearly 14 years renovating and expanding his oceanfront properties in the exclusive Sea Cliff neighbourhood, a project that neighbours say has turned the area into a long-running construction zone, according to a report by the New York Post. Residents told the publication that the sounds of jackhammers, cement mixers and construction vehicles have become a fixture of daily life as work on Dorsey’s luxury compound continues years after it began. “I’ve been listening to 24-7 construction noise in the distance for years now,” one resident told the Post anonymously. “One day it will end. I hope.”
Two properties, one long project
Dorsey, 49, who now leads financial technology company Block, owns two adjoining properties in the exclusive Sea Cliff enclave. They overlook the Pacific Ocean and the Golden Gate Bridge and cover a combined 1.21 acres on El Camino del Mar. According to SFGate, jackhammers, cement mixers and construction trucks have been heard in the area for over a decade. He bought the first property in February 2012 for $9.99 million. The 3,734-square-foot modernist home, built in 1965, originally had two bedrooms and two bathrooms. Construction began within months and has continued in various forms since.City records show a major redevelopment application filed in December 2013 proposed $3.7 million in improvements, including seismic upgrades, extra living space, roof decks and a planted roof. That permit alone took three and a half years to obtain. A 2020 redesign changed the windows, courtyard and exterior finishes, and was approved in July 2022. Later applications covered solar panels, landscaping, fire sprinklers, retaining walls, an underground water tank and a cold plunge pool.
Sauna complex, plunge pool and rooftop gardens
As per the report, the architectural plans seen by the local media suggests that the Dorsey is creating a highly customised retreat. The redesigned property consists of vegetation-covered roofs, reclaimed redwood cladding, extensive stonework and large ocean-facing windows. The standout feature of the luxurious property is a private hot tub connected to the primary bedroom, a steam room, plunge pool, gym, outdoor fire pit and an expansive sauna complex with its own dedicated access areas. The renovation plan also include dozens of solar panels and a sophisticated fire-protection system which need more than 100 sprinklers and a dedicated water line.
Estate expands beyond a single property
The project grew even larger in 2018 when Dorsey acquired the neighbouring property for $21.9 million, bringing his total acquisition costs to approximately $31.9 million.The second home spans about 3,588 square feet and sits on more than half an acre. While restrictions separating the two properties have reportedly been removed, available plans do not indicate that the homes will be physically merged into a single structure.The expansion mirrors a broader trend among technology billionaires assembling large residential compounds. The New York Post noted that Mark Zuckerberg has purchased multiple neighbouring properties around Lake Tahoe, while Sam Altman has also expanded his real-estate footprint around his San Francisco residence.
A neighbourhood-wide building boom
While Dorsey’s project has attracted attention because of its longevity, it is not the only source of disruption in Sea Cliff. The affluent neighbourhood, which has been home to figures including late comedian Robin Williams, actress Sharon Stone, Salesforce co-founder Marc Benioff and investor Tom Steyer, is experiencing a broader construction surge.Planning records cited in the report indicate that at least 24 homes along the eight-block stretch of El Camino del Mar have filed building permits since the start of 2025. Recent observations by local media found scaffolding, construction crews and heavy equipment operating outside several multimillion-dollar residences. For some residents, the combination of luxury home renovations and constant tourism has become an unexpected downside of living in one of San Francisco’s most exclusive enclaves.Despite the complaints, there is no indication that Dorsey’s renovation project is nearing completion, leaving some neighbours hoping that the sounds of construction will eventually give way to the tranquillity usually associated with a multimillion-dollar oceanfront address.