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Pacific Heights, San Francisco

Coordinates: 37°47′30″N 122°26′08″W / 37.7917°N 122.4356°W / 37.7917; -122.4356
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"Pacific Heights" redirects here. For other uses, see Pacific Heights (disambiguation).

Pacific Heights
Neighborhood
San Francisco Bay as viewed from Fillmore Street, between Broadway and Vallejo.
San Francisco Bay as viewed from Fillmore Street, between Broadway and Vallejo.
Pacific Heights is located in San Francisco
Pacific Heights
Pacific Heights
Location within Central San Francisco
Coordinates: 37°47′30″N 122°26′08″W / 37.7917°N 122.4356°W / 37.7917; -122.4356
Country United States
State California
City-countySan Francisco
Government
 • SupervisorCatherine Stefani
 • State AssemblyCatherine Stefani (D)[1]
 • State SenatorScott Wiener (D)[1]
 • U. S. Rep.Nancy Pelosi (D)[2]
Area
 • Total
0.967 sq mi (2.50 km2)
 • Land0.967 sq mi (2.50 km2)
Population
 • Total
21,925
 • Density22,677/sq mi (8,756/km2)
Time zoneUTC−8 (Pacific)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−7 (PDT)
ZIP codes
94109, 94115, 94123
Area codes415/628
[3]

Pacific Heights (often referred to as Pac Heights[4]) is a wealthy neighborhood in San Francisco, California, United States. It has panoramic views of the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco Bay, the Palace of Fine Arts, Alcatraz, Presidio of San Francisco, and the Sutro Tower.

A 2013 article named Pacific Heights one of the most expensive neighborhoods in the United States.[5] Since that year, Pacific Heights remains one of the ten most expensive neighborhoods in San Francisco.[6][7]

Geography and extent

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"Pacific Heights" is the general term for the hilltop neighborhood found between Cow Hollow to the north, the Upper Fillmore or Lower Pacific Heights to the south, the Presidio and Presidio Heights to the west, and Polk Gulch to the east. However, definitions vary and there are several official designations by different city and neighborhood groups.

All definitions agree that the neighborhood extends westward from Van Ness Avenue to the vicinity of The Presidio. The San Francisco Association of Realtors (SFAR) and the San Francisco Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Services (MONS) generally designate the area between Green Street in the north, California Street in the south, and Lyon Street in the west as Pacific Heights. However, SFAR also includes the area south of The Presidio as extending a farther block west to Presidio Avenue, while MONS includes the stretch of Pine Street east of Fillmore as being in the neighborhood.[8][9]

The Pacific Heights Residents Association defines the neighborhood more broadly, stretching from Union Street in the north to Bush Street in the south, with Lyon and Presidio Avenues being the western boundary.[10] Additionally, the Cow Hollow Association includes the area south of Pacific Street and west of Pierce Street as belonging in their neighborhood, therefore including a considerable area usually considered Pacific Heights in Cow Hollow.[11]

Pacific Heights is situated on a primarily east–west oriented ridge that rises sharply from the Marina District and Cow Hollow neighborhoods to the north to a maximum height of 370 feet (110 m) above sea level.[12]

Lower Pacific Heights refers to the area located south of California Street down to Post or Geary Street. Historically, this area was previously considered part of the Western Addition.[13] It was later called the Upper Fillmore, but the new neighborhood designation of Lower Pacific Heights became popularized by real estate agents in the early 1990s.[citation needed]

History

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The neighborhood was first developed in the 1870s,[14] with small Victorian-inspired homes built. Starting around the beginning of the 20th century, and especially after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, many were replaced with period homes. Still residential, the area is characterized by painted Victorian style architecture.

Notable places

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The oldest building in Pacific Heights, Leale House, located at 2475 Pacific Avenue, was built in 1853, though the majority of the neighborhood was built after the 1906 earthquake. The architecture of the neighborhood is varied; Victorian, Mission Revival, Edwardian, and Château styles are common.

There are numerous historic mansions in Pac Heights, including the Spreckels Mansion, the home of sugar tycoon Adolph B. Spreckels; the Whittier Mansion which served as the German Reich's West Coast headquarters during WWII, and many more.

Several countries have consulates in Pacific Heights. They include Italy,[15] Greece,[16] Vietnam,[17] South Korea,[18] China,[19] and Germany.[20]

Most of the neighborhood's boutiques and restaurants can be found along Fillmore Street, south of Pacific Avenue. Other businesses in Pacific Heights are located on California and Divisadero Streets, as well as on Van Ness Avenue.

Pacific Heights is home to several schools, including the San Francisco University High School; Drew School (formerly Drew College Preparatory School); the Hamlin School; Convent of the Sacred Heart High School; Stuart Hall High School, San Francisco Waldorf School,[21] Academy of Thought and Industry,[22] and Town School for Boys, among others. The celebrated Grant Elementary School was open on Pacific Ave from 1922 to 1972. Its students included children of diplomats, the well to do, and the adjacent Presidio military base.[23] Current elementary schools include Hillwood Academic Day School, which opened in 1949.[24]

Parks

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Pac Heights is home to numerous parks, including Lafayette Park, Alta Plaza Park, the Bush/Broderick Mini Park, the Cottage Row Mini Park, and the Hamilton Recreation Center.[25][26][27]

Events

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Pac Heights has played host to many notable events -- both ongoing and one time -- such as:

Government and infrastructure

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The San Francisco Police Department Northern Station serves Pacific Heights.[30] The neighborhood is in San Francisco's District 2, and is represented by former Stephen Sherrill,[31] a former policy advisor to Mayor Bloomberg. Sherrill was appointed by outgoing mayor London Breed after Catherine Stefani, who served from January 30, 2018 – December 2, 2024, was elected to the California State Assembly, representing the 19th district.

Notable people

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Statewide Database". UC Regents. Archived from the original on February 1, 2015. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
  2. ^ "California's 11th Congressional District - Representatives & District Map". Civic Impulse, LLC.
  3. ^ "Pacific Heights neighborhood in San Francisco, California (CA), 94109, 94115, 94123 subdivision profile - real estate, apartments, condos, homes, community, population, jobs, income, streets". www.city-data.com. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  4. ^ Mueller, Christina (January 12, 2023). "Explore Pac Heights, San Francisco's iconic neighborhood". SFGATE. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  5. ^ "Americas Most Expensive Neighborhood". 2013. Archived from the original on April 5, 2017.
  6. ^ "The Most Expensive Neighborhoods in San Francisco". Prevu. June 13, 2023. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  7. ^ "A Guide to San Francisco's Most Expensive Neighborhoods". California.com. August 13, 2020. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  8. ^ SFRA Neighborhood Map
  9. ^ "SF Find Neighborhoods | DataSF | City and County of San Francisco". San Francisco Data. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  10. ^ "About Us." Pacific Heights Residents Association. Accessed on April 14, 2024.
  11. ^ Cow Hollow Association
  12. ^ Bakalinsky, Adah (October 9, 2013). Stairway Walks in San Francisco. Wilderness Press. p. 66. ISBN 978-0-89997-637-2.
  13. ^ O'Brien, Tricia (2008). San Francisco's Pacific Heights and Presidio Heights. Arcadia Publishing. p. 7. ISBN 978-0-7385-5980-3.
  14. ^ Richards, Rand (2002). Historic Walks in San Francisco: 18 Trails Through the City's Past. Heritage House Publishers. p. 305. ISBN 978-1-879367-03-6.
  15. ^ "San Francisco Italian Consulate".
  16. ^ "Consulate General in San Francisco - Hellenic Republic - Greece in the USA". www.mfa.gr. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  17. ^ "English – VietNam Consulate". vietnamconsulate-sf.org. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  18. ^ "San Francisco South Korean Consulate".
  19. ^ "Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in San Francisco". www.chinaconsulatesf.org. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  20. ^ Amt, Auswärtiges. "Federal Foreign Office - German Missions in the United States". Seitentitel. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  21. ^ "San Francisco Waldorf School".
  22. ^ "Academy of Thought and Industry". Archived from the original on November 19, 2017.
  23. ^ "Classically inspired — and connected". Retrieved April 25, 2017.
  24. ^ [1] The Hillwood Herald
  25. ^ "Cottage Row Mini Park". San Francisco Parks Alliance. July 31, 2024. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
  26. ^ "Bush/Broderick Mini Park". San Francisco Parks Alliance. July 31, 2024. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
  27. ^ "Hamilton Recreation Center". San Francisco Parks Alliance. July 31, 2024. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
  28. ^ Goldfader-Dufty, Sid (June 30, 2023). "Stuff to do: Fillmore Jazz Fest, SFDanceworks, 'Top Gun' in the Presidio". Mission Local. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  29. ^ SFGATE, Dan Gentile (October 3, 2020). "Remembering the controversy of the 2005 Fillmore Street ski jump". SFGATE. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  30. ^ "Northern Station." (Archive) San Francisco Police Department. Retrieved on September 1, 2013.
  31. ^ Toledo, J. D. Morris, Aldo (December 18, 2024). "London Breed appoints former Michael Bloomberg staffer to S.F. Board of Supervisors". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved January 14, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  32. ^ a b c John Arlidge (March 17, 2014). "Jonathan Ive Designs Tomorrow". Time. Time Inc. Retrieved March 22, 2014.
  33. ^ "Jay Paul". Forbes. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  34. ^ Amanda Holpuch, What We Know About the Attack on Nancy Pelosi’s Husband, New York Times (October 29, 2022), "The Pelosis have owned a three-floor red brick townhouse in San Francisco’s exclusive Pacific Heights neighborhood since 1987."
  35. ^ Leahy, Garrett (June 6, 2024). "What do neighbors think about Trump's visit to Billionaire's Row? We rang 39 doorbells". The San Francisco Standard. Retrieved December 6, 2024.

Notes

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Pacific Heights, San Francisco.

37°47′30″N 122°26′08″W / 37.7917°N 122.4356°W / 37.7917; -122.4356

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