Twin Peaks West — District 4
Click the map for street detail of District 4
Map from San Francisco Multiple Listings
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Twin Peaks
- West Portal - Diamond
Heights - Forest Hill
St. Francis Wood - Ingleside Terrace
The Spanish-style architecture of St. Francis Woods has made it popular to those who love the Mediterranean, who appreciate seasonal smells provided by lawns, and, who prefer living in a village-like setting totally removed from hustle of the city while living within the city! Nearby is the West Portal shopping area which is being protected by its' neighbors from over-development. An assortment of little villages make up this district, which blossomed after 1918, due to the lack of easy access around Twin Peaks. The land prior to the installation of the Twin Peaks Tunnel was part of the Rancho San Miguel estate owned by San Francisco's the last Mexican mayor, Jose Noe.
Wikipedia describes Twin Peaks as, "two hills with an elevation of about 904 feet that are located in San Francisco, California. They are the second highest hills in San Francisco, after Mount Davidson. Twin Peaks Boulevard is the only road that goes to the summit of the peaks, and on the north side of the hills it connects to Christmas Tree Point, where there is a parking lot and an observation area which offers unobstructed views of most San Francisco and the San Francisco Bay."
West Portal has been a residential neighborhood west of the Twin Peaks Tunnel dating back to the 1920's. This sedate shopping location provides a small town atmosphere from diner's to merchant's catering to the new influx of young upward mobile professionals from the technology boom or should we know say bust?
The Diamond Heights area offers
sunshine and total panoramic views from the north and southeast of downtown,
the East Bay and west the Pacific Ocean . It is an affordable area of
San Francisco for young families, students, artists and professionals
with its modest single-family homes, apartments and condos. The nearby
Noe Valley and Diamond Heights Shopping Center provides the residents
an array of shops and restaurants to patronize.
Forest Hill probably has more detached Arts and Crafts, Edwardian, and Mediterranean-style houses with lush landscapes, curving lanes and trees than any other part of the city. The Forest Hills Clubhouse is famous for resident and non-resident weddings and other special occasions.
St. Francis Woods was developed during the building of the Twin Peaks Tunnel. Residences were lured to this lovely enclave by the promise of a 20-minute commute to downtown while living in a French country style setting. The famous Beaux Arts architect John Galen Howard designed the fountain in the plaza at the entry gates.
The Ingleside Terrace family-friendly neighborhood boast of a 34-foot sundial at its' gateway while offering easy parking and access to the MUNI and BART. The views from this oceanside neighborhood includes the San Bruno Mountains and Mr. Davidson. Photos, at various holidays such as Christmas and Easter, of the Sunrise Mass from one of these mountains always end up in the San Francisco Chronicle front page.
Westwood Heights, Westwood Park, Mount Davidson Manor, Sherwood Forest and Miraloma Park all surround the highest of hills, the 927-foot Mount Davidson. At the top of Mt. Davidson rest the 103-foot cross dedicated by Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1934. San Francisco's liberal political scene has fostered many heated discussions about this cross and church vs. state. There is a very interesting walk through the eucalyptus, cypress and pines forest on this hill in which the walker can view homes varying from modest stuccos to elaborate ranch styles.
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