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Oct 29th, 2008
Today, San Francisco is recognized and appreciated worldwide. Many famous landmarks distinguish the global city: the vermillion cables of the Golden Gate Bridge; the bustling shoppers and diners enjoying Union Square; Chinatown, with a myriad of people amidst the striking architecture; the clanging cable cars pulling up the crest of Nob and Russian hills; and the angular construction of the pyramid-shaped Transamerica Building. San Franciscans know their city’s charm runs much deeper than its physical attractions, spectacular as those may be. San Francisco combines sheer physical beauty, cultural diversity, leisure and recreational offerings and an ideal climate. In an age of freeways and urban sprawl, San Francisco remains a compact city with a thriving downtown business and retail center and unique, attractive, friendly neighborhoods. San Francisco is the heart of the Bay Area, a nine-county major metropolitan complex with a population of more than 6.7 million, making it the fifth-largest market in the nation. San Francisco is the heart of the Bay Area, a nine-county major metropolitan complex with a population of more than 6.7 million, making it the fifth-largest market in the nation, according to the Bay Area Marketing Partnership. The nine counties that comprise the Bay Area are San Francisco, Marin, Napa, Sonoma, Solano, Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara and San Mateo. The nine counties that comprise the Bay Area are San Francisco, Marin, Napa, Sonoma, Solano, Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara and San Mateo. San Francisco Neighborhoods Measuring a mere 47 miles – approximately seven miles in each direction and with a population of 744,041, the City by the Bay is situated on the tip of a peninsula and is bordered by the San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean. Here is a description of neighborhoods, each reflecting a different lifestyle and mood. Thanks to the multitude of immigrant influences, there are pockets of interesting diversity throughout the city – the fun part is selecting the one that best fits your lifestyle. Downtown/Financial District San Francisco is considered the “Wall Street of the West” and is ranked as one of the top four financial centers in the nation. The Financial District begins at Montgomery Street and extends east toward the Embarcadero. Montgomery Street has been linked to banking since the Gold Rush and continues to be a thriving business area. Two easily recognizable landmarks distinguish the Financial District. Rising to 858 feet, the Transamerica Pyramid is one of San Francisco’s famous icons and a dominant feature in the city’s skyline. The 52nd floor of the Bank of American Building offers breathtaking views of the city. Housing price range: $350,000 to $2.5 million. Sea Cliff Sea Cliff’s residences are located just above sea level and offer beautiful views of the ocean. Many beautiful mansions and beaches are in the area. China and Baker beaches are situated where the Golden Gate meets the Pacific Ocean. Housing price range: $1.8 million to $23.5 million. Pacific Heights This prestigious neighborhood was first developed in the 1870s to accommodate working-class families that were moving from the wealthy Nob Hill area. Small Victorian homes were built until 1900 when these homes were replaced with period homes. The stunningly beautiful area is characterized by painted Victorians, historic chateaus and superior mansions. Today, the area is home to many consular residences, San Francisco’s first families, successful entrepreneurs and artists. Housing price range: $1.8 million to $14.5 million. Presidio Heights Located just west of Pacific Heights and adjacent to the Presidio, Presidio Heights is a small enclave of elegant homes. The area is a short walk to the fashionable shops of Union and Chestnut streets. Housing price range: $500,000 to $22.8 million. The Marina Once marshland, the Marina is now home to many young professionals and is recognized by the landmark Palace of Fine Arts. It was built in 1915 to host the Pan Pacific Exposition and celebrate the opening of the Panama Canal, as well as San Francisco’s recovery from the physical and economic devastation of the 1906 earthquake. The Bernard Maybeck-designed palace was deeded to the city by the Army after World War II. By the 1950s, a movement to restore the palace emerged, and funds were raised to tear down the building and rebuild using permanent materials. The unique San Francisco landmark is leased to the Exploratorium and the Palace of Fine Arts Theater. With a terrific view of the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz and the bay, the Marina area attracts those who enjoy the outdoors. The Marina Green is a favorite place to walk, rollerblade or jog. Chestnut Street has many fashionable shops and boutiques. Fort Mason is also nearby and hosts many cultural events, including the San Francisco Blues and Jazz Festival. This quaint area also offers upscale options with a relaxed atmosphere. Housing price range: $485,000 to $9 million. Russian Hill The world-famous Lombard Street that twists down the hill to the delight of tourists and the dismay of cab drivers, is located in the neighborhood of Russian Hill. It’s just west of North Beach and east of the Marina. Russian Hill offers outstanding views of the San Francisco Bay and downtown. A cable-car line begins at the base of Hyde Street, traveling through Russian Hill to Nob Hill. Housing price ranges: $350,000 to $7.9 million. Cow Hollow Now a very fashionable area, in the 19th century Cow Hollow was known for its dairy farms. This neighborhood is home to many young professionals and is characterized by quaint homes and apartments. Union Street, which is lined with fashionable shops, restaurants and cafes, is the heart of the area. Housing price range: $450,000 to $7.5 million. Telegraph Hill Coit Tower, the 180-foot tower resembling a fire hose is the major landmark in this neighborhood. The tower was built in 1933 and was a gift to the city from Lillie Hitchcock Coit, who requested the monument be built in honor of the firemen at Knickerbocker Engine Company. Once a neighborhood with a diverse population of Irish, Italians, Germans, Spanish and Portuguese, after the tower was built, it became an expensive area for those seeking panoramic views of the bay. Housing price range: $400,000 to $6.5 million. Nob Hill This upscale neighborhood can boast of the richest history, possibly most wealthy residents and best views of the San Francisco Bay. Among Nob Hill’s sites are Grace Cathedral, a replica of Notre Dame in Paris; Huntington Park, site of many arts shows and graced by a replica of a 16th century Roman fountain; Nob Hill Masonic Center, an architectural dazzler hosting various musical events; the Cable Car Museum; and grand hotels. Housing price range: $495,000 to $5 million. South of Market (SoMa) SoMa is two square miles of hot nightclubs, fashionable restaurants, experimental theaters, discount shopping outlets and art galleries. Residential buildings in SoMa are mostly townhomes, flat-style condos, warehouse spaces, lofts and multi-unit buildings. Housing price range: $300,000 to $5 million. Within the neighborhood are many entertainment and visitor sites, including: • The Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, a $44 million entertainment and art complex located at 701 Mission St. Performances and exhibits showcase San Francisco's cultural diversity. • Moscone Center, the city's premier convention and exhibition facility, and Moscone West, immediately adjacent to the main Moscone facility. • The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, a 50-foot waterfall that features excerpts from his most memorable speeches, above Moscone North. • Ansel Adams Museum of Photography • The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art • The Museum of the African Diaspora • The Cartoon Art Museum • California Historical Society's museum • Pacific Telephone building, the first skyscraper built in San Francisco • Rincon Center • The Yerba Buena Gardens Festival Eureka Valley This area is made up of both flat land and hills. On the lower slope, you’ll find San Francisco’s archbishop’s headquarters and on the upper is the dramatic pinnacle called Corona Heights. Housing price range: $395,000 to $4.5 million. Noe Valley Located in the lowland between Twin Peaks and Diamond Heights, Noe Valley is a quaint neighborhood, centered around 24th Street and its coffee shops, boutiques, bookstores and many ethnic restaurants. The architecture in Noe Valley is predominantly Victorian. Housing price range: $350,000 to $4 million. Castro Considered the center of alternative living in San Francisco, the Castro district offers some of the most colorful and vibrant settings in the city. The neighborhood’s main thoroughfare, Castro Street, is home to many restaurants, alternative bookstores and diverse shops. Architecture in the Castro is contemporary, with Victorians and apartment buildings lining its side streets. The Castro is also the center for the city’s gay-lesbian population. Housing price range: $625,000 to $3 million. Haight Ashbury In the late 60s, this was the most famous area for rock and folk performances by such legends as Jimi Hendrix, the Grateful Dead and Janis Joplin. Today, you’ll find a charming Victorian neighborhood along with vintage clothing stores, cafes and shops selling books and records, particularly along Haight Street, the neighborhood’s busiest stretch. Housing price range: $600,000 to $3.8 million. Japantown The heart of Japantown is Japan Center, a five-acre complex of hotels, shops, theaters, sushi bars and restaurants at Post and Buchanan streets. It is crowned by a five-tiered pagoda, a symbol of eternal peace. Locals call this sector "J-Town." More than 12,000 residents of Japanese descent call it home. Average listing price: $689,500. South Beach This area of town includes the lively Embarcadero, South Park, plus the nation’s most beautiful ballpark, AT&T Park, home to the San Francisco Giants. AT&T Park and the Muni Metro extension. Thanks to the Embarcadero’s waterfront sidewalks, you’ll find skateboarders, joggers, dog walkers and tourists all enjoying the Bay view. South Park was developed in 1852 to resemble a London Square. Today, the area hosts many cafes, chic boutiques, design studio and other businesses in the lofts around its green center. Housing price range: $379,000 to $3 million. Mission The heart of San Francisco's predominantly Latino neighborhood is 24th Street, a colorful collection of restaurants, taquerias, Mexican bakeries, fresh produce markets and specialty shops. Mission Dolores at 16th and Dolores streets is the oldest structure in San Francisco. Many of the city's pioneers are buried in an adjacent cemetery. The Mission District also has the largest concentration of murals in the city. The area is a mix of working-class Latino families, young professionals, artists and others who enjoy its culturally diverse atmosphere. Housing price range: $300,000 to $1.7 million. Bernal Heights South of the Mission District and bordered by Cesar Chavez Street and Bayshore and Alemany Boulevards, Bernal Heights has a mix of pastel-colored houses that sit quietly away from the city pulse. Housing price range: $300,000 to $1.4 million. Hayes Valley This is an emerging neighborhood that is located just west of the Civic Center. You’ll find many new restaurants, interesting boutiques and eclectic galleries. Today, the area is attracting a healthy influx of new residents. Housing price range: $480,000 to $1.4 million. Western Addition/Anza Vista This section of the city includes the plateau west of Civic Center, stretching west to Masonic and Presidio avenues. Victorian houses, many restored, dominate the area’s architecture. Major attractions in this area include Fillmore Auditorium and within walking distance is Davies Symphony Hall and San Francisco’s Main Library. Anza Vista was developed within the Western Addition and has a suburban, quiet feel. It is located near Alamo Square, a park and playground surrounded by Victorian homes. Housing price range: $800,000 to $1.4 million. Sunset Before the 1930s, the Sunset District was essentially sand dunes that extended west to Ocean Beach. The dunes were paved over and replaces with pastel-colored, stucco house on wide streets. Located just south of Golden Gate Park, the Sunset area offers many ethnic specialty stores, coffee shops, Irish pubs, cafes and diversions. Interestingly, the area is one of the foggiest in the city, thanks to its location near Ocean Beach. Housing price range: $450,000 to $1.2 million. Education The San Francisco Bay Area is home to well-educated residents. Two-thirds of the Bay Area residents have education and training beyond high school, and well above 40 percent have graduated from college and beyond. A full 16 percent of city residents hold graduate degrees, topping the rankings of major cities in the United States. The San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) consists of 73 elementary schools, grades K-5; 17 middle schools, grades 6-8; and 20 high schools, grades 9-12. There are nine charter schools with an enrollment of 3,037. While every school offers a core curriculum that meets the standards of the California Department of Education, the district also offers special programs such as bilingual education, English-as-a-Second Language (ESL), Special Education and Gifted and Talented Education (GATE), in an effort to meet the various needs of a diverse student body. Parents should contact the Parent Information Center of the Education Placement Center at 415-241-6529 to find out more information about school programs and individual student needs. Early November through early January is the preregistration optional enrollment request period when parents can apply to the specific schools they want their children to attend. Applications are available at all San Francisco public schools and at the Educational Placement Center (135 Van Ness, Rm. 1; open Monday to Friday, 8 am to 4:40 pm) After the January deadline, only applications from parents and guardians new to the unified school district will be accepted. Assignment letters are mailed out in early March and are made where space is available. If the requested school cannot be granted, a school is assigned based on student’s home address and where transportation, if needed, is available. For more information, parents should call the Educational Placement Center For additional information, contact: San Francisco County Office of Education 555 Franklin St. Community Colleges in San Francisco City College of San Francisco – 750 Eddy St. City College of San Francisco – 1220 Noe St. @ 25th St. City College of San Francisco – 940 Filbert St. City College of San Francisco – 800 Mission St. City College of San Francisco – 1400 Evans Ave. City College of San Francisco – Fort Mason Center, Bldg. B, City College of San Francisco – 415-561-1952 City College of San Francisco – 106 Bartlett St. City College of San Francisco, 50 Phelan Ave. City College of San Francisco, 1800 Oakdale Ave. Selected Private Schools - Adda Clevenger Junior Preparatory 1577 34th Ave. Alternative High School 325 La Grande Ave. Archbishop Riordan High School 175 Phelan Ave. Big City Montessori School 240 Industrial St. Brandeis Hillel Day School 655 Brotherhood Way Bridgemont High School 1555 Irving St. Buena Vista Alternative Elementary School 2641 25th Ave. Drew School 2901 California St. French American International School 150 Oak St. Hebrew Academy 645 14th Ave. Hillwood Academic Day School 777 Brotherhood Way Immaculate Conception Academy 3625 24th St. The Laurel School 305 9th Ave. Lick-Wilmerding High School 755 Ocean Ave. Lycee Francais La Perouse 1201 Ortega St. The Maria Montessori School of 678 Portola Dr. Mercy High School College Prep 3250 19th Ave. Muhammad University 5048 3rd St. Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory 1055 Ellis St. San Francisco Christian School 5655 Mission St. San Francisco University High School 3065 Jackson St. San Francisco Waldorf School 2938 Washington St. Ignatius College Preparatory 2001 37th Ave. Stuart Hall High School 1715 Octavia St. Synergy School 1387 Valencia St. The Urban School of San Francisco 1563 Page St. Voice of Pentecost Academy 1970 Ocean Ave. Woodside International School 1555 Irving St. Zion Lutheran Church & School 1555 Mariposa |
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