© McCormack's Guides
Zip Code: 94110
One of the
older neighborhoods of the City.
Located about three miles south of downtown. Good commute. Housing quaint and
well-maintained. Considered slightly upscale in an artsy way. www.mccormacks.com
Many
residents own homes, which helps neighborhood stability. Some homes have
security doors but many do not.
Spread
over several hills, centered on park that includes Bernal Hill, 440 feet high.
Good views of Bay and hills to the west. Trees and small lawns and shrubs adorn
the fronts of mostly single-family homes, many of which have been remodeled.
Click for regional or detailed map
Victorians
and Queen Annes lend to the charm. In spring, the red of the bottlebrush, the
yellow of the daffodil and the orange of the poppy plus blues and purples from
a variety other plants brighten the streets.
Protected
by the hills, Bernal Heights escapes the fog and enjoys some of the nicest
weather of the City.
Close to
downtown. Businesses along Cortland Avenue and Chavez Street. www.mccormacks.com
Neighborhood
activists came to life in 1980s and pressured city hall to make long overdue
street improvements and pay more attention to planning. One resident called
Bernal Heights a “village in the middle of San Francisco.”
Other
words used, “rural” and for developers, "impossible." Residents are
very selective about what kind of housing will be built. For years they fought
the construction of public housing on a parcel above Alemany Boulevard and
managed to cut the number of apartments to 45 (from 120).
Two
parochial schools and a public school.
At least four parks, several
playgrounds. Indoor sports at the schools, the shows, movies, clubs, night life
and cultural ornaments of the downtown a few minutes away. Delis, restaurants,
a library (rebuilt in 2005), a community center.
Bernal
Heights, which drew its name from one of the Spanish land grant families, got
its start in the late 1800s when San Francisco began moving out from its
downtown. www.mccormacks.com
Douglas
Mount, historian, reported that the first residents were mainly Irish
immigrants, later followed by Italian and German and Hispanic immigrants. St.
Anthony’s Church opened in 1894.
Street
cars spurred construction but many lots were empty when 1906 earthquake struck.
Bernal Heights escaped almost unscathed and this impressed many. Over the next
10 years, development boomed.
One study
showed that about 65 percent of the neighborhood's 7,000 residential units were
built before World War II and 28 percent in the 15 years just after the war.
About 60 percent of the units are single homes; the rest duplexes and apartment
complexes of three and four units.
Some
streets, especially on the south side of Bernal Hill, fade almost into wide
trails — seclusion to a comforting degree, but maneuvering a car or
pickup is challenging.
A
neighborhood group negotiated a deal with city officials concerning parking: no
ticketing unless someone complains. Many residents were parking in front of
their driveways, a ticketable offense. www.mccormacks.com
Some
hillside lots have been converted into community gardens. Several neighborhood
groups stay in touch with the politicians and sound out opinions on issues.
In 1876, a
Frenchman discovered what he thought was gold on Bernal Hill and set off a
minor rush; turned out to be mica (fool's gold).
Bernal
Heights is close to Mission Bay, the project that is remaking San Francisco's
southern waterfront.
Buses to
downtown and to nearby BART stations. Short drive to Highway 101.
• Spotted in 2007, a coyote. Animal control says don't feed, don't leave pet food out and don't leave small pets out at night. Coyotes also seen in Golden Gate Park.
