Central — District
5
Click the map for street detail of District 5
Map from San Francisco Multiple Listings
District Quick Links: D1 | D2 | D3 | D4 | D5 | D6 | D7 | D8 | D9 | All Districts
Castro - Corona
Heights - Noe Valley - Dolores
Park - Glen Park - Twin Peaks
Buena Vista Park - Haight Ashbury - Cole Valley
The microcosm of the working class young and old can be found in this district, which includes some of the most infamous neighborhoods of San Francisco. Haight Ashbury immortalized by the music of great like Janis Joplin, Jimmy Hendrix, Grateful Dead group, etc. has been world famous since the Summer of Love in the '60s. Walking the streets of this neighborhood which balances a fine line between being a quasi-commercial "60s theme park and a socially responsible historical institution center IS an adventure!
The Castro district, the haven of the gay and lesbian community has the landmark Castro Theater where viewers line up to see such drag queen specials as "Sound of Music" sing alongs. After the World War II many of the dishonorable discharged soldiers due to their sexual orientation remained in San Francisco known for its' tolerance and diversity since the Gold Rush days rather than return to mid-western homes known for their intolerance of gays, blacks, etc. The gentrification of this working class district began in the 60's and 70's when well-educated middle-class white gay men were drawn to the Victorian architecture of the Castro and 18th Street area of Eureka Valley. Check out the "Crusin the Castro" walking tour written by Trevor Hailey if you wish to learn about the colorful history. Or just walk along the Castro and experience the trendy shops, mainstream restaurants, leather bars and clubs side-by-side, etc. filled with alternative lifestyle individuals.
Corona Heights is called, "San Francisco's best kept secret" according to its own website which touts sales figures for 2006 and lists current events for the neighborhood. Mr. SF says this about the nearby park, "...between Saturn and Ord Streets, craggy Corona Heights is a seeming wasteland. The hill rewards those who climb to its altitude of 500 feet with unobstructed views of downtown and southern parts of the City. Quarried for bricks for the better part of three decades more than 100 years ago, the treeless peak formerly known as Rock Hill is surprisingly serene and beautiful, Looming high above the Castro District, Corona Heights provides plenty of elbow room for hikers and solitary thinkers..."
The San Francisco Chronicle describes Noe Valley as, "a neighborhood of contradictions. It's home to both liberals and conservatives, it has attracted the working class, dot.com millionaires, Hollywood film crews ("Sister Act," "Nash Bridges"), and, in the 1970s, followers of controversial Indian guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh. Recent problems with storefront vandalism stand in sharp contrast to Noe's clean-cut image and the fact that it's chock full of upscale restaurants, home-decor boutiques, and chic clothing shops. Since the dot.com boom began waning, housing prices have dipped slightly and there has been some turnover on the main shopping drag, but it remains a prosperous, shopper-friendly neighborhood whose bistros, coffee shops, and bookstores are always lively, and where parking is always at a premium."
The Mission Dolores is the oldest structure in the city. It dates from 1776 and was one of 21 missions established by the Spanish Franciscans. Each mission approximately a day 'journey apart all along the California coast. The Dolores Park area has one of the very best views of downtown while dogs run without leashes and more than one has been sighted playing ball without their clothes in this popular gathering spot. Southwest is Noe Valley, one of the most coveted residential areas in the past decade due to its' convenient access to 101 Highway and 280 freeway. The charming cafes, locally-owned shoe stores, book shops, health food stores, etc. has drawn a cross-section of residence from artists, techies and urban families.
Wikipedia says, "Glen Park is a small neighborhood in San Francisco, California. It is located at the southern edge of the hills in the interior of the city, to the south of Diamond Heights and Noe Valley, west of Bernal Heights, and east of Glen Canyon Park. The intersection of Diamond Street and Bosworth Street is generally considered the center of the neighborhood. Because of Glen Park's small size and mom and pop stores, restaurants, and saloons, the neighborhood is often described as having a village atmosphere. The neighborhood is served by a small storefront branch of the San Francisco Public Library." *
Twin Peaks blessed with villa-like single-family homes to modern apartment provides spectacular views along the summit of the two 900-ft. Twin Peaks and its radio tower. The Diamond Heights neighborhood southeast from the peaks also offers endless great views to all that live there while its southern borders are guarded by Glen Park Canyon.
"Buena Vista Park is a park in the Haight-Ashbury and Buena Vista Heights neighborhoods. It is the oldest official park in San Francisco, established in 1867 as Hill Park and renamed Buena Vista in 1894. It is bounded by Haight Street to the north, and by Buena Vista Avenue West and Buena Vista Avenue East. The park is on a steep hill that peaks at 589 feet, and covers 37 acres. The lowest section is the north end along Haight. The layout of the park uses the steep hill to great advantage, offering excellent views of the city (particularly to the north) as well as impressive natural beauty." *
Haight-Ashbury is filled with Victorians
and is the home of the most famous corner in hippiedom, Haight & Ashbury.
Legendary musical groups such as the Grateful Dead at 112 Lyon Street
and singer Janis Joplin's pad on Buena Vista Park have helped make this.
Cole Valley, while partly in the Haight-Ashbury and part in the Parnassus neighborhoods, Cole Valley has a character all its own. The San Francisco Chronicle neighborhood guide says, "...bordered on the west by Stanyan Street and the Sutro Forest, on the south by Tank Hill and on the east by Clayton Street. Residents are largely families and young professionals, though there is no trace of the snootiness that has affected other parts of the city. Most of the businesses in Cole Valley are of the mom-and-pop variety, in lieu of chain stores or franchises, and shop owners are outwardly supportive of each other." **
* source - Wikipedia
** source - SFGate
Click here for information on San Francisco Public Schools | San Francisco Private Schools
