Ingleside Terrace

Ingleside Terrace

Ingleside Terrace is another one of those best-of-both-worlds neighborhoods found in the Southwestern area of San Francisco. It was developed around the old Ingleside Racetrack, which once attracted jockeys from all over the country. Urbano Drive marks the old track and is very visible on any map. It's rumored that the home at nearby 280 Byxbee Avenue was once the jockey's clubhouse, and the very 1st automobile race in California was held at the racetrack in 1900. The neighborhood officially opened in 1913, offering Edwardian era San Franciscans a true residential park. Ingleside Terrace offers modern city dwellers a quiet, peaceful, almost suburban atmosphere with easy access to urban amenities. This is a very walkable neighborhood, with Ocean Avenue shopping and services and the Stonestown Galleria Mall within blocks. Muni's K-line streetcar runs right along Ocean Avenue and straight to West Portal with all of its shops and dining to the the north, or down to the Glen Park or Balboa Park BART stations and City College to the south. San Francisco State University is also nearby. Adjacent Junipero Serra Boulevard offers commuters easy access to the Peninsula. The Ingleside Terraces Homes Association remains very active, hosting community-building events like garage sales and holiday caroling. Its newsletter, The Sundial, is named after what some suspect to be the world's largest sundial; it was erected by Ingleside Terrace's developer in Entrada Court as a publicity stunt and has been diligently keeping track of the time since 1913. ---------- SUBDISTRICT/NEIGHBORHOOD: 4G / St. Francis Wood Long one of San Francisco's most affluent neighborhoods, the charming enclave of St. Francis Wood still benefits from the efforts of the city planners, architects and landscapers who set out to create one of the country's first true residential parks back in 1912. Inspired by the ideals of the City Beautiful movement, spearheaded by famed architect Daniel Burnham, homes in St. Francis Wood are still coveted for their views, harmony with the surrounding environment and classical designs. In fact, at the time it opened to home buyers, this neighborhood boasted the highest concentration of residences designed by prominent architects of the era -- such as Julia Morgan and supervising architect John Galen Howard -- in all of San Francisco. By emphasizing beauty in the surrounding landscape and a sense of serenity in the curvilinear street plan, those early planners set the bar high for urban living. Today, landscape maintenance for the towering eucalyptus trees, lush greenbelts and gorgeous fountain and terraced plaza is managed by the very active homeowner's association. When it comes to pride of ownership, St. Francis Wood dwellers are in a class by themselves. Community standards set over a century ago dictated not only such quality of life issues as where one could park a horse, but also established a ban on businesses that continues today. Fortunately, the bustling West Portal neighborhood is just a few blocks north. Walk down this charming avenue and you'll feel you've gone back in time, only to find all of today's conveniences. A Muni line runs right through the West Portal to zip commuters downtown. ---------- SUBDISTRICT/NEIGHBORHOOD: 4K / Sherwood Forest Sherwood Forest is perched on the southwest slope of Mount Davidson, the City's highest hill at 927 feet. This tiny neighborhood is patterned around the tale of Robin Hood with street names such as Lansdale, Dalewood and, of course, Robinhood, the highest residential street in the City. Original globe streetlights still grace the small community thoroughfares, which feel a world apart from its more urban neighborhoods. There are only single-family homes in this small enclave of about 200 homes, some dating back to the 1930s by famed architects Julia Morgan, Timothy Pflueger and Harold G. Stoner. From colonials to manor houses, the homes reflect an elegant and serene atmosphere. South of Sherwood Forest lies Westwood Highlands, another small enclave. Many streets end with "wood" (Brentwood, Hazelwood, Burlwood), thus providing the neighborhood's nickname "the woods." Marked with obscure wrought iron signs, Westwood Highlands has 283 residences built in the late 1920s with the look and feel of an English village. The neighborhood association dates back to 1924 when the Residential Development Company of San Francisco established Westwood Highlands as one of the earliest planned residential communities in the country. Most residents are long-term and turnover is rare. Both hillside neighborhoods benefit from lovely views. The Mount Davidson Stairway Walk meanders through a variety of flora and views of neighboring West Portal, where shops and restaurants can be found. ---------- SUBDISTRICT/NEIGHBORHOOD: 4P / Westwood Highlands Sherwood Forest is perched on the southwest slope of Mount Davidson, the City's highest hill at 927 feet. This tiny neighborhood is patterned around the tale of Robin Hood with street names such as Lansdale, Dalewood and, of course, Robinhood, the highest residential street in the City. Original globe streetlights still grace the small community thoroughfares, which feel a world apart from its more urban neighborhoods. There are only single-family homes in this small enclave of about 200 homes, some dating back to the 1930s by famed architects Julia Morgan, Timothy Pflueger and Harold G. Stoner. From colonials to manor houses, the homes reflect an elegant and serene atmosphere. South of Sherwood Forest lies Westwood Highlands, another small enclave. Many streets end with "wood" (Brentwood, Hazelwood, Burlwood), thus providing the neighborhood's nickname "the woods." Marked with obscure wrought iron signs, Westwood Highlands has 283 residences built in the late 1920s with the look and feel of an English village. The neighborhood association dates back to 1924 when the Residential Development Company of San Francisco established Westwood Highlands as one of the earliest planned residential communities in the country. Most residents are long-term and turnover is rare. Both hillside neighborhoods benefit from lovely views. The Mount Davidson Stairway Walk meanders through a variety of flora and views of neighboring West Portal, where shops and restaurants can be found. ---------- SUBDISTRICT/NEIGHBORHOOD: 5F / Buena Vista/Ashbury Heights The Buena Vista Park neighborhood is, of course, named for Buena Vista Park and is located in the area immediately surrounding the park. The homes here are primarily single-family Edwardians and Victorians with a smattering of more contemporary abodes to round out the mix. Some vintage multi-units on Alpine and Walter add to the charm. Perched high on a hill, great views abound. Worthy of note is the abundance of palm trees for a little tropical ambience. The park itself is San Francisco's first in the park system, dating back to 1867. Dotted with staircases, pathways, trails, tennis courts and a baseball field, the park achieved some notoriety during the 1967 Summer of Love. The neighborhood association has been extremely effective in bringing the park to its current child-friendly, accessible park. To the West of Buena Vista Park sits the upscale neighborhood of Ashbury Heights. This area is known for its beautiful homes, quiet streets and beautiful trees. Proximity to the Cole Street shops and restaurants is a boon to residents. Many properties in the Heights enjoy amazing views, and property does not turn over as quickly as other neighborhoods. ---------- SUBDISTRICT/NEIGHBORHOOD: 5G / Corona Heights Just south of Buena Vista Park and west of the Duboce Triangle is the small affluent neighborhood of Corona Heights. Many streets are narrow, steep, quiet and quaint while 17th Street and Market Street come alive with traffic and commerce. The architecture runs the gamut from fine Victorians to modern masterpieces. The Randall Museum, located on Museum Way, focuses on arts, crafts, sciences and natural history geared toward children. It has been home for the Golden Gate Model Rail Road Club since 1961. The nearby neighborhoods of the Castro, Haight Ashbury and Cole Valley offer great shopping and dining opportunities, and public transportation is excellent.

• Zip Code(s): 94127