HUNDREDS OF SEARCHABLE LISTINGS ONLINE: RENTALGUIDE.COM Volume 22, #15 July 24, 2008 to August 6, 2008
ADVERTISING INFO: (415) 929-7777
E P Y T O T O PR
COVER b THE UNFURNISHED
PRESIDIO RESIDENCES b (415) 561-5454 b See Page 7 FURNISHED
ROOMMATES
FR
SENIORS EE
POST A LISTING b UPLOAD PHOTOS b WWW.RENTALGUIDE.COM
2 b Please Tell Them: “I’m Calling About Your Ad in the Rental Guide”
C
O
N
T
SAN FRANCISCO
SF SHORT TERM
MARIN
Apartment Communities & Apartment Buildings
Fully-Furnished Daily, Weekly & Monthly
PETALUMA
2000 Post....................14 Archstone South Market..............11 Bayside Village............. 9 Cathedral Hill Plaza.... 16 Crystal Towers............ 16 Lakewood Apts............ 8 Northpoint Apartments............... 15 Oakwood Geary Courtyard................... 40 Paramount..................13 Parkmerced.................. 3 Presidio Residences...... 7 Rincon Towers............ 10 South Beach Marina.... 5 Trinity Towers............. 16 Webster Tower........... 12
2000 Broadway.......... 16 Balmoral Res. Club..... 37 Gateway Inn................36 Gaylord.......................34 Industrial Hotel...........36 Residence Clubs......... 35 St. Clare Hotel............ 36 Trinity Management.... 2 Webster Tower........... 12
San Francisco Real Estate Rental Services
Centerstone................20 CitiApartments...........18 Trinity Management.... 2
RETIREMENT Broadmoor................ 37 Northgate Terrace....... 31 EAST BAY DUBLIN
Avalon Dublin Station.... 33 EL CERRITO
Budget Inn................ 31 OAKLAND
Landing at Jack London Square............. 6 Northgate Terrace.......31
E
Azure at Lakeville....... 20 SAUSALITO
Sausalito Towers........ 27 PENINSULA DALY CITY
Westlake Village . ...... 29 SAN BRUNO
Archstone San Bruno. 30 Crystal Springs........... 28 SHORT-TERM PENINSULA
Westlake Village......... 29 CLASSIFIEDS Long & Short-Term.....39 SERVICES GuideYou.com.............26 Safeway......................39 MAPS & INFORMATION BART Map.................. 31 Bay Area Chambers.....33 SF Districts....... 23,24,25 SF Districts Map..........38
NEXT ISSUE DATES: July 10-23, 2008 NEXT ISSUE DEADLINES: Color Ads Due: Friday, July 11, 2008 New Display Ads Due: Wednesday, July 16 Copy Changes Due: Wednesday, July 16 Classified Ads Due: Friday, July 18 by 1:30pm
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Published by Guide Publishing Group, Inc. to serve the RENTER, the rental housing community, newcomers, visitors, executive travelers, real estate agents, property owners & managers. Rental Guide publishes every other Thursday. Controlled circulation is distributed in San Francisco, Marin County, and Upper Peninsula. Listings are accessible to advertisers 24/7 and are updated in real time. PLEASE NOTE: Due to the nature of rentals, some listings may no longer be available, or information on current listings may have changed. Also: neither the listing broker nor the publisher will be responsible or liable for misinformation, misprints, typographical errors or wrong photos, etc., which may appear in this publication or on RentalGuide.com or any affiliate website. Reproduction in whole or in part of any content without the written consent of the publisher is prohibited. Rental Guide magazine reserves the right to refuse any advertising. Copyright 2008 All Rights Reserved. Previous issues of Rental Guide are NOT available for public use. TERMS AND CONDITIONS: Rental Guide magazine and RentalGuide.com are for individuals seeking to secure rental housing and for non-commercial use ONLY. All other use is strictly prohibited. You may not reproduce, distribute, display, publish, republish, copy or sell any content contained on RentalGuide. com or Rental Guide magazine in part or in whole for commercial gain. The content of this magazine and RentalGuide.com may not be re-posted or sold on any other site or print medium. Commercial use of listing information by Fee agencies, real estate firms, relocation companies or any other rental service or company providing similar services is strictly prohibited and subject to legal recourse for copyright violation. All real estate advertised in this publication or website is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1968 which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, family status, or national origin, or intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination.” We will not knowingly accept any advertising which is in violation of the law.
STAFF: Publisher: E Drew Patterson Distribution and Accounting: Diana Liedtke Design & Production: Patrick Broderick Marketing Administrator: Amanda Pattison Advertising: 415 929 7777
New Listings Updated in Real Time at RentalGuide.com b 3
Visit Our New Website
It’s Easier than Ever to Search, Post, Upload Images and Manage Listings Renters Can Post “I Am Looking For...” Landlords Can Post a Vacancy
• Unfurnished • Furnished & Vacation Rentals • Roommates • Seniors Great new features: Renters post “I am seeking a rental,” save and rate your favorite rentals, earn money when you find your next address through Rental Guide’s Renter Rewards program
ALL-NEWE! WEBSIT MORE ! FEATURES
R E N T A L G U I D E.
C O M
4 b Please Tell Them: “I’m Calling About Your Ad in the Rental Guide”
R O O M M A T E S
Free Roommate Service
Post “I Have a Room for Rent” Post “I Need a Room for Rent” ALL-NE WEBSITW E! MORE FEATURES !
RentalGuide.com Offers a Free Searchable Database of Shared Rentals! No Charge to List Your Available Room or to List Yourself as an Eligible Roommate. Upload up to 6 Photos!
New Listings Updated in Real Time at RentalGuide.com b 5 S A N
One Bedroom Residences from $2,200 Two Bedroom Residences from $2,900
S o uth B eac h Mar i na a pa r t m e n ts Luxurious 1 & 2 bedrooms with panoramic bay and city views Granite and marble features available Private Terraces Heated pool and spa Lighted tennis courts A state of the art health club with steam & saunas Furnished lounge with screening and billiard rooms
A sunny, picturesque location right on the San Francisco waterfront, South Beach is an exciting neighborhood consisting of exceptional and innovative restaurants, bars and art galleries as well as AT&T Park, home of the San Francisco Giants. We are conveniently accessible to San Francisco Muni lines, Caltrain Station, BART trains, the Bay Bridge, ferry building and Highways 280, 101 and 80.
Two Townsend at the Embarcadero
415.495.4119 w w w. s b m a - s f . c o m
Beautifully landscaped For more information on this property go to www.RentalGuide.com/id and enter id# 1358
F R A N C I S C O
6 b Please Tell Them: “I’m Calling About Your Ad in the Rental Guide” R E N T A L G U I D E.
C O M
Renters List Yourself
Renters Post “I am Seeking a Rental” Landlords Search for the Perfect Tenant ALL-NE WEBSITW E! MORE FEATURES !
Post a Listing “I am a Renter Looking for...” and let the Landlords Find You! Renters: now you can post “I Am Seeking” rental listings on RentalGuide.com. Tell landlords what you are looking for and why you’d make a great tenant. Landlords: proactively search online for your next tenant. Whether you’re looking for a furnished or unfurnished unit, a vacation rental, a roommate, senior housing or even commercial space – save time searching, let the rentals come to you!
New Listings Updated in Real Time at RentalGuide.com b 7
: * 8 * #: 3 8 =#8 ) *= 3= '
ACTiviTiES: Sunday Brunch, Bingo, Exercise Classes, Movies, Outdoor Luncheons, Religious Services, Birthday Celebrations, Special Holiday Treats, Cocktail Parties, Live Music, & More. DininG: From our modern, fully-staffed kitchen under the direction of one of San Francisco’s most creative chefs come the dishes that will make dining at The Broadmoor a delightful part of your life.
R E T I R E M E N T H OT E L Deluxe single rooms Two room suites Three room suites
$1,700-$2,700 $2,800-$3,500 $4,200
For double occupancy of rooms and suites, an additional $750.00 monthly is required.
SAFETy: At The Broadmoor we take every precaution that you may live in confidence and comfort, attended to from within and protected from the intrusive annoyances of the outside. For security and convenience,The Broadmoor has no equal. The Broadmoor is affiliated with one of the best nursing homes in San Francisco: Central Garden Convalescent Hospital. Please Mention “Rental Guide” When Calling.
1499 Sutter Street (at Gough) San Francisco, California 94109 TEL: (415) 771-9119 b FAX: (415) 929-3116 http:// www.thebroadmoorhotel.com b email: bmoorhtl@ mindspring.com For more information on this property go to www.RentalGuide.com/id and enter id# 1781
S E N I O R S
8 b Please Tell Them: “I’m Calling About Your Ad in the Rental Guide”
Enjoy a BEttEr Lifestyle for LESS! R E N T S S TA RT I N G AT $ 1 , 4 9 0
ThE LANdING AT JAck LoNdoN SquARE offers luxurious amenities and beautiful bay views at an affordable price. Just thirty minutes to San Francisco by ferry and conveniently close to BART. Enjoy the most prestigious waterfront location on the shores of the San Francisco Bay!
FrEE rEnT On SELECT UnITS!
(Limited Availability)
Throughout the Community: Ample Free Parking Designer Clubroom Fully-Equipped Business Center Year-Round Heated FRIEND T Swimming Pool & Spa Fitness Center Controlled Access LY
Studios Starting at $1490
Endless Comforts: Spacious Studio, One and Two Bedroom Floorplans Full Size Washer and Dryer Nine Foot Ceilings Designer Kitchen Walk-in Closets* Linen Closets* Wood-burning Fireplaces*
CA
O A K L A N D
LL T A u LS c o IA B A Ec SP
Why Live in San Francisco?
*in select units
101 Embarcadero West, Oakland, CA 94607 phone: 510.625.0500 fax: 510.625.0472 www.TheLandingatJackLondonSquare.com Please mention Rental Guide when calling
For more information on this property go to www.RentalGuide.com/id and enter id# 25575
New Listings Updated in Real Time at RentalGuide.com b 9 S A N F R A N C I S C O
➲ Enclosed reserved parking ➲ Controlled access buildings ➲ Cable & High Speed Internet available ➲ Clubhouse with billiards, ping-pong & gathering area ➲ Heated year-round swimming pool & hot tub
➲ Lighted tennis & racquetball courts
Harding Park Golf Course
35
Golden Gate National Recreation Area
John
Muir
Lake Drive Merced
Lake Merced Blvd.
➲ Fitness Center with dry saunas, steam rooms & aerobics room
Pacific Ocean
➲ Gas BBQ’s & picnic area ➲ On-site laundry & dry-cleaning facilities ➲ Private patios/ balconies & large walk-in closets ➲ Easy access to public transportation ➲ Serene location with fabulous views ➲ Monthly Resident Activities – complimentary tennis, Pilates and cardio kickboxing lessons, Sunday doughnuts and pastries
StuDioS FroM $1,394-$1,444 1 Br/1 Ba FroM $1,675-$1,895 2 Br/1 Ba FroM $2,275 2 Br/2 Ba FroM $2,375-$2,525 SecuritY DePoSit $750
515 Joh n M u i r D r i v e San Fran c iSc o , c a 9 4132
(866) 562-1964
For more information on this property go to www.RentalGuide.com/id and enter id# 31412
10 b Please Tell Them: “I’m Calling About Your Ad in the Rental Guide” S A N F R A N C I S C O
For more information on this property go to www.RentalGuide.com/id and enter id# 1310
New Listings Updated in Real Time at RentalGuide.com b 11 S A N
S P E C T A C U L A R
P A N O R A M I C
V I E W S
Overlooking the Embarcadero Waterfront and San Francisco’s Skyline
Modern Studios, 1 & 2 Bedroom Suites Breathtaking Panoramic Views Floor to Ceiling Windows Controlled Access Community Reserved Covered Parking
Close to Public Transportation RINCON TOWERS APARTMENTS
415-615-9200 88 Howard St., San Francisco MOn - Fri: 8 am tO 5 pm (closed weekends)
Professionally Owned by Capital Properties
15 Diverse Eating Establishments On Site Post Office, Market, Dry Cleaner, Salon, Shoe Repair, Florist and Gift Shops Inquire about Below Market Rents
Please mention Rental Guide when calling
CLOSE TO EVERYTHING
FAR FROM ORDINARY
PHOTO I.D. REQUIRED FOR TOUR.
For more information on this property go to www.RentalGuide.com/id and enter id# 1356
F R A N C I S C O
12 b Please Tell Them: “I’m Calling About Your Ad in the Rental Guide”
Distinctive city Living FURNISHED EXECUTIVE SUITES AVAILABLE / BREATHTAKING VIEWS
➤ Spacious floor plans, some with walk-out decks, terraces, and fireplaces ➤ Laundry facilities in the building ➤ Cardio fitness room Fisherman’s Wharf
Golden Gate Park
Van Ness
Geary
Franklin
Divisadero
Lombard Golden Gate Bridge
Fillmore
F R A N C I S C O
Webster
S A N
Financial District Union Square
Turk Fulton Fell
80 101
To San Jose
To Bay Bridge / East Bay
101
1489 Webster (at Geary), San Francisco
call 415-931-6300
Mon.-Fri. 9am to 6pm; Saturday 10am-5pm
➤ 24-hour desk patrol, Underground gated parking, Electronic entry system ➤ Easy access to shopping, fine restaurants & theatres ➤ Minutes to Downtown SF by public transportation ➤ On-site maintenance and management
For more information on this property go to www.RentalGuide.com/id and enter id# 1357
New Listings Updated in Real Time at RentalGuide.com b 13 Located in the colorful and historic north waterfront area near Fisherman’s Wharf, Chinatown and North Beach, NorthPoint Apartments is nestled among landscaped gardens, sheltered courtyards and heated swimming pools. The Neighborhood
Just minutes from the Financial District and major freeways, NorthPoint Shopping Centre is in the immediate proximity of NorthPoint Apartments, featuring Safeway, Walgreens and 24-Hour Fitness i N Te r i o r A Me Ni T i eS
Remodeled apartments Modern appliances ■ Generously appointed with carpeting, drapes, large windows and mirrored closet doors. ■ Private decks and breath-taking views of the cityscape, the San ■ ■
Francisco Bay and Coit Tower* P r o P e rT Y A Me Ni Ti e S
Beautifully landscaped gardens and courtyards ■ Two swimming pools, heated year-round. ■ State-of-the-art fitness center ■
■
Covered Parking
F Lo o rP L A N S ■ ■ ■ ■
Studios $1,585-$1,880 1BR/1 ba $1,945-$2,820 2BR/1 ba $2,730-$3,215 2BR/2 ba $2,730-$3,215
2211 Stockton at Bay St.
(415) 989-6563
*select units
For more information on this property go to www.RentalGuide.com/id and enter id# 1579
S A N F R A N C I S C O
14 b Please Tell Them: “I’m Calling About Your Ad in the Rental Guide”
retirement center S E N I O R S
Northgate Terrace
Join Us In A Happy Place To Live
AffordAble...
StudioS
Northgate Terrace Oakland, Ca. 94612 5 5 0 2 4 t h St re e t
for those 62 years of age and over
(510) 465-9346
Union Membership Not Required Graphic Communications Union Retirement Center Incorporated (Northgate Terrace) accepts applications, admits residents and employs staff without regard to race, creed, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, familial status, or handicap A California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation
$580
• All utilitieS free • Some HAndicAp AcceSSible • All-electric KitcHen • 24-Hour emergency reSponSe SyStem • Active SociAl And recreAtionAl progrAmS • free buS tripS • grocery SHopping • lAundry room • exerciSe room • t.v. room • librAry • lounge Please Mention Rental Guide When Calling
For more information on this property go to www.RentalGuide.com/id and enter id# 31196
Views
▪ Spacious Floorplans ▪ Large Closets ▪ Balcony ▪ 24 Hour Doorperson ▪ Beautiful City Views ▪ Indoor Parking Available ▪ Fitness Center Membership Available ▪ Convenient to Restaurants, Shops and Entertainment
F R A N C I S C O
T
FRIEND LY
Large Floor Plans
CA
S A N
Studios
$1,600 - $1,800 One Bedrooms
$1,995 - $2,700 Two Bedrooms, Two Baths
$2,700 - $4,000
*Pets welcome with management approval
1 3 3 3 g o u g h (at geary) ▪ (4 1 5 ) 3 4 6 - 3 1 2 4 ▪ w w w. c h p a p t . c o m For more information on this property go to www.RentalGuide.com/id and enter id# 1704
New Listings Updated in Real Time at RentalGuide.com b 15
S A U S A L I T O
Across the Golden Gate Bridge, 5 minutes from San Francisco, Sausalito Ambience & Spectacular Bay Views
Sausalito Towers Bay Views Balconies/Patios ■ Heated Pool ■ Covered Parking ■ Extra Storage ■ Wood Burning Fireplaces ■ Free Basic Expanded Cable ■ Laundry in Each Building ■ ■
Bri
101
Convenient to Downtown Sausalito ■ Resident Management ■ Indoor Cats Only ■ High-Speed Internet Access ■ Spacious Floor Plans ■
ew
Hum
St.
R
bold
Spr ing
o deo
dg
a Ave y
t Av e. SAUSALITO
Downtown Sausalito
From San Francisco: North US 101, Rodeo Ave. exit
San Francisco Bay 101
One Bedroom/1 Bath ................... $1,900-$2,200 Two Bedroom/2 Bath ................... $2,100-$2,400
From North: Bridgeway exit, right on Spring St., right on Woodward, left on Rodeo Golden Gate Nat’l Recreation Area
Three Bedroom/2.5 Bath Townhouse ....... $3,000
SauSalito towerS apartmentS 25 Rodeo Ave., Sausalito 415-332-4533, 415-302-5567 www.sausalitotowers.com
Pacific Ocean
Golden Gate Bridge
101
SAN FRANCISCO
For more information on this property go to www.RentalGuide.com/id and enter id# 1409
16 b Please Tell Them: “I’m Calling About Your Ad in the Rental Guide”
Country Atmosphere in the Perfect Location S A N B R U N O
Studios, One and Two Bedrooms Clubhouse with Billiards Room & Lounge Area Fitness Center, Jacuzzi, Sauna and 3 Pools Newly-Upgraded Kitchens & Baths Indoor Cats Welcome Barbecue Areas Private Entrances Cathedral Ceilings* Covered Parking Minutes from San Francisco Airport & Highways 280, 380 & 101 Convenient for Commuters to San Francisco and Silicon Valley. Minutes to Caltrain and the new San Bruno BART station
*Available in selected units
Crystal springs T ERRACE
2000 Crystal Springs Road San Bruno ▪ (650) 583-8043 or visit us at crystalspringsterrace.com CAll now FoR MoVe-in SpeCiAl Professionally Managed by Gerson Bakar & Associates ▪ Please Mention “Rental Guide” When Calling For more information on this property go to www.RentalGuide.com/id and enter id# 966
New Listings Updated in Real Time at RentalGuide.com b 17
live and experience suburban lifestyle with urban access
D A L Y C I T Y
urban access walking distance to shopping malls, grocery stores, restaurants, entertainment and public transportation including daly city baRt seconds away from the 280 freeway and highway 1
choices & selection almost 3,000 apartment homes including studios, 1, 2 and 3 bedrooms, cozy cottages and roomy townhomes
Prices starting at:
suburban lifestyle tranquil garden courtyards serene panoramic ocean & city views Peaceful golf course views
studios $995 2 bR $1,645
1 bR $1,195
2 bR townhome $2,095 3 bR $2,395
Prices subject to change without notice
westlake Village apartments www.WestlakeVillageApts.com 331 Park Plaza Drive, Daly City Toll Free:
650-755-8133
Please mention “Rental Guide� when callinG
PRofessionally manaGed by GeRson bakaR & associates
For more information on this property go to www.RentalGuide.com/id and enter id# 1342
18 b Please Tell Them: “I’m Calling About Your Ad in the Rental Guide”
F U R N I S H E D
A N U N C O M M O N S TAY
High-end furnished apartments with hotel amenities, combining the comforts and conveniences of home with the luxury of hotel service. Conveniently located minutes away from Union Square and Theatre Row in downtown San Francisco. • Remodeled bathrooms • Fully-equipped kitchenettes • Comfortable and well-designed furnishings • Designated work area • Category V internet connection • Voicemail service • Walk-in closets • Color cable television with HBO • Weekly housekeeping & linen service • Wi-Fi in our common areas • iHome in every room • Weekly (7 night minimum) and Monthly stays www.gaylordsuites.com www.citisuites.com
620 Jones Street, San Francisco, CA 94102
877-SUITESF
(415) 673-8445
For more information on this property go to www.RentalGuide.com/id and enter id# 1367
New Listings Updated in Real Time at RentalGuide.com b 19 San FranciSco’S MoSt PoPular reSidence clubS F U R N I S H E D
——— Free Wireless Internet Service (Wi-Fi) ———
thE monroE
1870 Sacramento Street San Francisco, CA 94109 415/474-6200 fax: 415/346-1870 email: monroe9@mindspring.com website: www.monroeresidenceclub.com m Economy:
thE kEnmorE
1570 Sutter Street San Francisco, CA 94109 415/776-5815 fax: 415/776-9659 email: kenmore1@mindspring.com website: www.affordablehotels.net/kenmore.htm m Convenience:
One payment takes care of everything! m Safety: Desk clerk on duty 24 hours a day Both buildings located in elegant Pacific Heights
Includes breakfast & dinner 6 days a week Continental breakfast & full brunch Sundays Private or shared rooms, maid, wake- up call & message service, e-mail & Internet access.
P e r P e r S o n r at e S Daily ratES $59-$89 aCCommoDationS 1 WEEk 2 WEEkS Private room Private Bath $350 $690 Private room Share Bath $275 $540 Private room hall Bath $250 $490 Double Suite Private Bath $240 $470 Double room Private Bath $230 $450 Double room Share Bath $200 $390 Double room hall Bath $190 $370
ACT NOW!
month $1380 $1080 $980 $940 $900 $780 $740
Call one of the clubs and ask for a brochure. Better yet, drop by, look us over and talk to one of our managers.
For more information on this property go to www.RentalGuide.com/id and enter id# 4743, 4741
20 b Please Tell Them: “I’m Calling About Your Ad in the Rental Guide”
E L C E R R I T O
Budget Inn
BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) System ■ Richmond-Daly City ■ Pittsburg/Bay Point-Millbrae ■ Richmond-Fremont ■ Fremont-Daly City ■ Dublin-SF Int’l Airport ■ Millbrae - SF Int’l Airport
Fully-FurniShEd unitS 1 BR: $220 Weekly * 2 BR: $280 Weekly *
© Copyright Guide Publishing Group, Inc.
Pittsburg/ Bay Point North Concord/ Martinez
Pleasant Hill El Cerrito del Norte El Cerrito Plaza
*Plus Tax
▪ Daily rooms available ▪ Separate kitchenette (some rooms) ▪ Microwave/ refrigerator (some rooms) ▪ Private baths ▪ Free parking ▪ Utilities included ▪ HBO & Cable ▪ Direct dial Phones ▪ On-site manager
N E W LY R E M O D E L E D !
10621 San Pablo Avenue, El Cerrito
(510) 526-9020
Concord
Richmond
Walnut Creek
North Berkeley
Lafayette
Berkeley
Orinda
Ashby Rockridge
MacArthur (Transfer Station) West Oakland
Embarcadero Powell St. 16th St./ Mission
19th St. Oakland Oakland City Center/12th St. (Transfer Station) Lake Merritt
Montgomery St. Civic Center
Fruitvale
24th St./Mission Glen Park Oakland Balboa Park Intl. Airport Daly City
Coliseum/ Oakland Airport
San Leandro Bay Fair
Castro Valley
Colma
South San Francisco
Dublin/ Pleasanton
SF Intl. Airport San Bruno
Hayward
Millbrae
South Hayward Union City
© Copyright 2008 Guide Publishing Group, Inc. Fremont
www.RentalGuide.com/id# 25117
P E T A L U M A
PETALUMA
q
EARN $ 150 REWARD FOR MOVING IN!
1 Bedrooms from $1510 2 Bedrooms from $1950 Brand New High-Quality Condo Style Apartments To earn your $150, go to RentalGuide.com/id and enter magazine id #36148 Register on RentalGuide.com, contact this property, move in, earn the $150 Rental Reward for using Rental Guide! For more information on this property go to www.RentalGuide.com/id and enter id# 36148
New Listings Updated in Real Time at RentalGuide.com b 21
BALMORAL GROUP
Furnished Rooms with Shared Baths
Affordable Fully Furnished Short/Long-term Accommodations in 4 Different Locations
Limited Vacancies
210
$
Balmoral Residence Club - Nob Hill 1010 Bush St., San Francisco, CA 94109 Phone: (415) 673-5070 Fax: (415) 673-5071
Per Week
Rooms with Shared bath - $185 & up weekly Rooms with Private bath - $285 & up weekly
Monthly Rates Available
(Free WiFi, Cable TV, Phone, Refrigerator, Microwave, & Shared Kitchen) Balmoral North 1 - Financial District 706 Kearny St., San Francisco, CA 94108 Phone: (415) 956-8858 Fax: (415) 956-2912
Rooms with Shared bath - $160 & up weekly(Free WiFi) Balmoral North 2 - Chinatown 668 Clay St., San Francisco, CA 94111 Phone: (415) 395-9757
Rooms with Shared bath - $150 & up weekly (Shared Kitchen) Balmoral South - South Market 93 6th St., San Francisco, CA 94103 Phone: (415) 543-3304 Fax: (415) 543-3222
Rooms with Shared bath - $150 & up weekly
Microwave ▪ Refrigerator Phone Service ▪ T.V. with Cable Community Kitchen ▪ Laundry Facility
ph: (650) 589-3897 ext. 100 fax: (650) 589-5995 Call during business hours 10-6 Mon.-Sat.
505 Cypress Ave., S. San Francisco, California 94080
A Nice Place to Stay in Town. Clean, Quiet & Friendly!
Rental Application & Security Deposit Required
Visit our web: www.balmoralsf.com
Please mention Rental Guide when calling
Please Mention Rental Guide When Calling
www.RentalGuide.com/id# 1885
Gateway Inn $ 2 7 5 & U P W e e k ly * M o n t h ly R a t e s a v a i l a b l e •
Fully furnished rooms with/without private bath
•
80+ cable channels with HBO
•
TV / VCR
•
Free high-speed internet in each room
•
Onsite manager
•
Maid service
•
Walking distance to Shopping at Union Square, great restaurants and Market St.
•
Weekly & monthly rates available
* plus Tax & Key Deposit
438 O’Farrell St. 415-749-1888 FAX 415-776-2194 Please Mention Rental Guide When Calling
www.RentalGuide.com/id# 5026
F U R N I S H E D
www.RentalGuide.com/id# 31906
The
are St . ClHotel 1334 VAn ness AVe.
Charming Beauty in a Great Location in a Great Location with Attractive Weekly Rates
FoR ReseRVAtions CALL 415-474-5797 www.RentalGuide.com/id# 1985
F U R N I S H E D
San Fr an
Golden Gate Bridge to Marin
PACIFIC HEIGHTS
HaightFillmore
Blvd
Westwood Highlands
St M ar ke t
Market St
Blvd
Sa nJ os eA ve
Mt Davidson Manor
INGLESIDE
1 Serra pero Juni
d Blv
Ocean View
280
St
101
Peralta Heights Army St
Mis sio nS t
Islais Creek
Apparel City
Holly Park
Oa kd ale
Ev an sA ve
Av e
St Marys Park
Portola
Av e
Silver Terrace
101
HUNTERS POINT South Basin
t sel S Man Reis-Paul
EXCELSIOR
Tract
VISITACION VALLEY
Ave
Blvd
Sunnydale
d
Bret Harte Candlestick Cove
San Francisco Districts & Neighborhoods communities. San Francisco has many informal districts and many popular area designations, having no precise boundaries. For additional information on neighborhoods, including points of interest, shopping & dining, public transportation and parking, visit RentalGuide.com. Newcomer information, coupons, maps more!
India Basin
BAYSHORE 280
Communities: The district and neighborhood names are not all officially adopted residential
© Copyright 2008 Rental Guide • 2720 Taylor St. Suite 450 San Francisco, CA 94133
Bay View
e Av
Ge ne va
Crocker Amazon
Central Waterfront
Army St
University Mound
Pe rsia
Cayuga
San Miguel Southern Hills
Merced Heights
e os nJ Sa
Westwood Park Mission Terrace
Holloway Ave
Park Merced
Lake Merced Hill 35
rey Monte
Central Basin
280
Crescent
Fairmount
Av e
Balboa Terrace
Stonestown
Sherwood Heights
Monterey Heights
n ea Oc
e ylin Sk
LAKE MERCED
ST FRANCIS WOOD
POTRERO HILL
BERNAL HEIGHTS
GLEN PARK
Ale m an y
Merced Manor 19th Ave
Lake Shore
Junipero Serra Blvd
Sloat Blvd
35
DIAMOND HEIGHTS
Miraloma Park Sherwood Forest
West Portal
Dr
Mariposa St
Dolores Heights
NOE VALLEY
la to or
St
Vincente
Country Club Acres
P
Laguna Honda
Taraval St
16th St
MISSION
Dolores St
Forest Hill
Pine Lake Park
Midtown Terrace
H
Quintara St
da on
Parkside
TWIN PEAKS
na gu La
hway Great Hig
Golden Gate Heights
Claren don
Forest Knolls
1
CASTRO
Eureka Clarendon Valley Heights
Mission Bay
3rd St
Noriega St
18th St
Mission St
SUNSET
19th Ave
33rd St
28th Ave
Sunset Blvd
Outer Sunset
Ave
Parnassus Heights
Sunset Heights
17th St
Ashbury Heights
China Basin
101
Duboce Triangle
Buena Vista
South Beach
Showplace Square
South Van Ness Ave
Judah St
Yerba Buena
Haight St
HAIGHT
7th Ave
Inner Sunset
Oak St
Gurerrero Ave
St Stanyan
Lincoln Way
SOUTH OF MARKET
80 Fell St
HaightAshbury
GOLDEN GATE PARK
CIVIC CENTER
WESTERN ADDITION
St
Hayes Valley
Rincon Hill
St
Fulton St
Cathedral Hill Fillmore Center
80
h 6t
Francisco Heights Lone Mountain
Inner Richmond
101
Bridge to Oakland
Geary St
d 3r
Balboa St
RICHMOND
Outer Richmond Vista del Mar
Japan Town
Anza Vista
Jordan Park Masonic Ave
34th Ave
Park Presidio
Geary Blvd
a St Californi
Mis sio nS t
California St
Presidio Terrace
Arguello Blvd
25th Ave
LINCOLN PARK
Park Presidio Blvd
SEACLIFF
DOWN TOWN
M iss io n
Presidio Heights Laurel Heights
NOB HILL
Embarcadero Center Bay
FINANCIAL DISTRICT
3rd St
1
Ave
N
Jackson Square
CHINA TOWN Powell St
N
NORTH BEACH
Polk adway Gulch Bro
Bays hor eB lv
PRESIDIO
101
COW HOLLOW
Van Ness
O ific Pac
TELEGRAPH HILL
RUSSIAN HILL
M ar ke t
Lin coln
St Lombard Blvd
cea n
MARINA
Lin co ln
St
101
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Co lu m bu sA ve
Fort Mason
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FISHERMANS T WHARF he Embarc
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1 Mile 1 Kilometer
New Listings Updated in Real Time at RentalGuide.com b 23 $150 REWARD FOR USING RENTAL GUIDE
$1450 Walnut Creek Resort-Style Living located in the heart of Walnut Creek. Studios from $1150, 1 BR from $1450, 2 BR from $1795 Go to RentalGuide.com/id enter id# 36473 Register on RentalGuide.com, contact property, move in & Rental Guide pays you $150
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$2300 Marin Panoramic Views Overlooking the Bay, Easy Commute to SF! 2 BR from $2300, 3 BR from $2500 Go to RentalGuide.com/id enter id# 1234 Register on RentalGuide.com, contact property, move in & Rental Guide pays you $150
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$1765 Walnut Creek The Ideal Community for your way of Life. 1 BR from $1765, 2 BR / 1 Ba from $2495 2 BR / 2 Ba from $2550 Go to RentalGuide.com/id enter id# 36416 Register on RentalGuide.com, contact property, move in & Rental Guide pays you $150
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$1285 Emeryville Urban Living with Suburban Setting. 1 BR from $1285, 2 BR from $1815* *We have 2 Bedroom Lofts Available Go to RentalGuide.com/id enter id# 36375 Register on RentalGuide.com, contact property, move in & Rental Guide pays you $150
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KE Y TO RENTAL GUIDE ABBREVIATIONS A/C - Air Conditioner
renov - Renovated
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RM - Room
ba - Bathroom
S/S - Side by Side
bldg - Building
sf - Square Foot
BR - Bedroom
trans - Transportation
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D I S T R I C T S
SAN FRANCISCO DISTRICTS BERNAL HEIGHTS Bordered by Noe Valley, Glen Park and the Mission District, Bernal Heights is very family-friendly neighborhood with a small town charm. Bernal Heights saw most of its building after the 1906 Earthquake; stucco bungalows, cottages and colorful Victorians are still standing. Once among the more affordable areas of the city, many young families moved to the neighborhood for the expansive views, the sun and the anything-goes attitude. Since then Bernal Heights has been defined with an optimistic community spirit and unconventional vision. Rentals in the area vary from apartments to flats to single-family homes, most of which are on the moderate end of the price range. SHOPPING & DINING Bernal Heights is a neighborhood yet to be invaded by mass retail and Courtland Avenue is the hub of retail activity. Charming little restaurants have locals lined up for breakfast. Sit next to the fire at a local coffeehouse and sip your mocha while reading or playing games. The city’s oldest lesbian bar also resides in this diverse neighborhood. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION & PARKING Muni lines: 24 Divisadero, 23 Monterey, 67 Bernal Heights, 14 Mission, 49 Van Ness-Mission, J-Church. BART: Glen Park Station. The general parking outlook is fair but availability will vary from street to street. Narrow one-way streets add to the parking challenge. POINTS OF INTEREST At Bernal Heights Park you’ll notice every breed of dog scaling the hill; sweeping views of the city are your reward for the climb. The community also holds a ‘hillwide’ garage sale every August. CASTRO At the upper end of Market Street is the lively Castro District, a neighborhood that caters largely to the gay and lesbian community. Rental prices range from moderate to pricey with residents paying for location. The sunny neighborhood, marked by the Castro Theatre marquee and a gigantic rainbow flag blowing in the wind, has become a symbol of gay and lesbian pride throughout the world - somewhat of the gay Mecca. SHOPPING & DINING All visitors are welcome in this friendly neighborhood, which offers a huge array of bars, restaurants and specialty stores. Shoppers will enjoy a great selection of modern clothing, bath products, rainbow striped gifts, books and home furnishings. Inexpensive food on the go dominates the dining choices, although the area is also home to outdoor cafes and upscale restaurants. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION & PARKING Access to public transportation is excellent along Market Street. Muni lines: 24 Divisadero, 33 Stanyan, 35 Eureka, 37 Corbett, J-Church, F-Line. The neighborhood is bustling with activity day or night making residential parking a challenge for renters without a garage. POINTS OF INTEREST The neighborhood’s main attractions include the Castro Theatre, Mission Dolores Park, Harvey Milk Plaza and the San Francisco Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Community Center. Annual events: Gay Pride Week and the Freedom Day Parade (June), Castro Street Fair (October). CIVIC CENTER Although the area is most closely associated with central government and the performing arts, Civic Center has many rental units to offer. If you’re looking for convenience to the Financial District or perhaps the freedom of a month-to-month lease, the many furnished “residence hotels” and efficiency units in this area offer an alternative to standard rentals. Many great, affordable units can be found on Van Ness Avenue, Gough and Franklin
streets but the compromise for moderate rents may be the noise of traffic on these busy streets. What the area around the Civic Center lacks in “neighborhood charm” it makes up for in location and convenience. SHOPPING & DINING Dining in the area caters to everyone’s needs from fast food to fine sit-down restaurants, which are popular amongst patrons of the arts. Hayes Street and Van Ness Avenue are loaded with shops and restaurants. The AMC movie theaters and two gyms are nearby. There is also shopping and dining to be found on nearby Polk Street. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION & PARKING Muni runs along Van Ness Avenue, the City’s north-south axis. Muni lines: 19 Polk, 21 Hayes, 42 Downtown Loop, 47 Van Ness, 49 Van Ness-Mission, F-line. Muni Metro/ BART - Civic Center Station. Golden Gate transit makes stops on Van Ness Avenue to accommodate residents of Marin and Sonoma counties who commute to and from San Francisco. Van Ness is the extension of Hwy. 101, a main artery to the Golden Gate Bridge via Lombard Street. Residential parking is fair, however major streets such as Franklin are subject to parking restrictions during commute hours. A City-operated parking lot is located at Civic Center Plaza. POINTS OF INTEREST The beautifully restored City Hall (modeled after St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome) is one of San Francisco’s crown jewels. Opposite City Hall is the beaux arts-style War Memorial Opera House (Ballet and Opera performed here) and the Herbst Theater. The San Francisco Symphony performs nearby at Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall. Government buildings surrounding Civic Center Plaza include State and Federal offices and San Francisco Court House. The Bill Graham Civic Auditorium is nearby, as is San Francisco’s spectacular Main Library and the award-winning Asian Art Museum, which displays over 2,500 treasures from all over Asia. COW HOLLOW South of the Marina, across busy Lombard Street, you’ll find Cow Hollow (so named for the 30 dairy farms that flourished here in the 1800s) and the Union Street shopping district. Along eight blocks of Union Street, classic Victorians have been transformed into stylish restaurants, boutiques, art galleries, jewelry stores and world-class spas. Cow Hollow is a very desirable location with rents at the high end of the scale. SHOPPING & DINING With a bar (or coffeehouse!) on almost every block, Cow Hollow caters to professional singles out on the town. Restaurant choices range from romantic trattorias to sleek pan-Asian bistros. On the shopping front, high-end national retailers co-mingle harmoniously with independent boutiques. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION & PARKING Muni runs along Union street. Muni lines: 22 Fillmore, 41 Union, 45 Union-Stockton. There is residential parking (street parking restricted by paid permit), metered parking and a few garages, however parking can still be difficult around Union Street during peak hours such as weekends and evenings. POINTS OF INTEREST An architectural point of interest in Cow Hollow is the Octagon House built in 1861 and now a museum for Colonial and Federal Periods. One of the City’s most charming parks, Allyne Park, is the perfect spot for a picnic on a sunny afternoon in City. The Union Street Fair, held every June, kicks off the City’s street fair season.
New Listings Updated in Real Time at RentalGuide.com b 27 EXCELSIOR DISTRICT South of Highway 280, sandwiched between Mission Street and Geneva Avenue the Excelsior District. The area remains one of the best places to find affordable housing, however some may find the district a little too far removed from the rest of the City. If you don’t mind living on the outskirts of the City, there are lots of apartments and single-family homes that are within budget for the average renter. The Excelsior is an ethnically and socio-economically diverse community where there’s a sense of renewal as young couples and families search for their first home. SHOPPING & DINING Mission Street is the district’s commercial street with produce and seafood markets, butcher shops, hair salons and bakeries. Mission Street runs from the Mission District through the Excelsior District and there are many great taquerias along the route. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION & PARKING Muni lines: 14 Mission, 29 Sunset, 43 Masonic, 44 O’Shaughnessy, 52 Excelsior, 54 Felton. POINTS OF INTEREST John McLaren Park is San Francisco’s second largest park at 317 acres. Located in the park is the Jerry Garcia Amphitheater, named after Grateful Dead singer/guitarist Jerry Garcia, one on the Excelsior District’s most famous residents. FINANCIAL DISTRICT / EMBARCADERO WATERFRONT The Financial District begins at Montgomery Street and extends east toward the Embarcadero. Although this area is contained within a few city blocks, it is ranked as one of the top four financial centers in the nation. Most activity in the City’s commercial district takes place from 9am to 5pm when workers descend on the area. San Francisco’s eastern waterfront has emerged as one of the City’s most exciting new neighborhoods. The Embarcadero is a waterfront boulevard lined with elegant palm trees, historic piers structures, hip eateries and luxury apartments and condominiums. Rentals near the Embarcadero will be true to market rate with a premium paid for views. SHOPPING & DINING Levi’s Plaza, located between Union and Greenwich streets and Battery and Sansome streets, is the world headquarters of Levi Strauss. Interesting shops, restaurants and a Levi’s Jeans History Wall are located here. Stretching across the heart of the Financial District is the Embarcadero Center, an ultramodern five-building complex of offices, major retailers, fine restaurants, movie theaters, two hotels and Justin Herman Plaza. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION & PARKING With parking at a premium (and sky-high daily rates to prove it!) Muni offers extensive service to the Financial District including many express lines. Riding a Muni F-line vintage streetcar is a fun way for visitors to get around and view the San Francisco Bay, Coit Tower and famous Fisherman’s Wharf. The fleet of restored streetcars includes international and domestic trolleys from the 1920s and ’30s as well as San Francisco’s very first street car (built in 1912) and “The Street Car Named Desire” built in 1923 and acquired from New Orleans in exchange for a California Street cable car. The popular F-line runs a total of five miles beginning at its western terminal in the Castro district, down Market Street to the Embarcadero and ending at Jones and Beach streets in Fisherman’s Wharf. Muni Metro lines T & N run south along the Embarcadero. Muni Lines: 32 Embarcadero, 42 Downtown Loop, 82x Levi Plaza Express. Cabs are typically more plentiful in the area than in other neighborhoods. Golden Gate Transit (Marin/Sonoma Counties) and AC Transit (Alameda County) buses provide service to and from the Financial District during commute hours.
BART - Embarcadero Station. Commuters from around the Bay have the option of hopping a ferry to the Ferry Building located on the Embarcadero at the foot of Market Street. Ferries shuttle commuters to and from: Tiburon, Larkspur, Sausalito, Alameda, Oakland, Richmond and Vallejo. POINTS OF INTEREST Located inside the Ferry Building is the Ferry Building Marketplace which consists of gourmet shops and restaurants. An outdoor farmer’s market is held seasonally. San Francisco’s trademark building (and it’s tallest), the Transamerica Pyramid, is located in the Financial District. GLEN PARK Bordered by Diamond Heights, Miraloma Park, Glen Canyon Park and Highway 280, Glen Park is favored by residents for its relative isolation. The City bought Glen Canyon Park in 1922 and the rest of the area was sold for home sites. A diverse population calls Glen Park home. Laidley Street is a mishmash of colorful Victorians and modern homes; two mansions located here were brothels for many years.Though not as expensive as neighboring Noe Valley, the rentals to be had around Glen Park will vary from moderate to high depending on location and the unit itself. SHOPPING & DINING The village, as residents refer to it, centers on Chenery and Diamond streets. All the necessities are right at hand: banks, coffee houses, restaurants, pizzerias, a neighborhood hardware store and more. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION & PARKING Muni lines: 23 Monterey, 24 Divisadero, 26 Valencia, 35 Eureka, 44 O’Shaughnessy, 52 Excelsior. BART: Glen Park Station. POINTS OF INTEREST Enjoy the great outdoors at beautiful Glen Canyon Park, 70 acres of natural area designated for public enjoyment. Residents flock to the area for hiking, rock climbing bird watching and general recreation! HAIGHT / COLE VALLEY /BUENA VISTA / ASHBURY HEIGHTS Perhaps the world’s most well known neighborhood is “the Haight”. Located west of Downtown and below Golden Gate Park’s Panhandle the Haight was at the center of the counter culture, free love and antiwar movements during the 1960s. It was home to Janis Joplin and the Grateful Dead. Young people still flock to the area but families are taking up residence as well. Rents are more reasonable than other areas of the City. Most rentals in the area consist of large, often colorful Victorians (that may or may not have been renovated) as well as multiunit apartment buildings. Sharing the spacious rental units here is common. South of the Haight is Cole Valley. Some of the most charming houses in the City can be found here, but the vacancy rate in Cole Valley is extremely low and rents can fetch a premium price. There are lovely homes, duplexes and grand apartment buildings located around Buena Vista Park and the area known as Ashbury Heights. Competition can be intense for the limited number of rental units. SHOPPING & DINING While you’ll find remnants of the “Summer of Love” here, the Haight has gone through a makeover in recent years and smoke shops have given way to funky (and pricey) shoe boutiques, record emporiums and a great variety moderately priced restaurants. Cole Valley has a quaint neighborhood feel with an independent hardware store, pubs and cafes and restaurants. Businesses on Cole Street appeal to a more mature resident than nearby Haight. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION & PARKING Muni Metro (N-Judah) stops a few blocks from Haight Street and a number of Muni bus lines run
D I S T R I C T S
28 b Please Tell Them: “I’m Calling About Your Ad in the Rental Guide”
D I S T R I C T S
through and around this district as well. Muni lines: 6 Parnassus, 71 Haight, 43 Masonic. This district is close (via Muni) to UCSF and USF. Fell and Oak streets are two of the primary East to West routes in the City. Unfortunately, the outlook on street parking is poor - especially weekends and evenings. POINTS OF INTEREST The Grateful Dead house is located at 710 Ashbury. Residents of the Haight and Cole Valley have great access to all there is to see and do in Golden Gate Park which begins at Haight and Stanyan streets. JAPANTOWN / FILLMORE Japantown is located between Octavia and Fillmore, and California and Geary. “J-Town”, as locals call this neighborhood, has its heart at Japan Center. This five-acre complex of hotels, shops, movie theaters, sushi bars and restaurants, is located at Post and Buchanan Streets. A five-tiered pagoda, a symbol of eternal peace, tops Japan Center. More than 12,000 people of Japanese descent call this area home. SHOPPING & DINING Japantown and Japan Center offer many great restaurants concentrated in a four-block radius. The Sundance Kabuki Cinemas, a multi-screen movie complex is located in Japantown. There’s grocery shopping nearby at Geary and Webster Sts. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION & PARKING Muni Lines: 1 California, 2 Clement, 3 Jackson, 4 Sutter, 22 Fillmore, 24 Divisadero, 38 Geary, 38L Geary Limited, 47 Van Ness-Mission, 76 Marin Headlands, 49 Van Ness-Mission, 42 Downtown Loop. Golden Gate Transit. With all the great restaurants and a movie theater, parking can be difficult in the neighborhood. POINTS OF INTEREST In the late 1940s and 50 the Fillmore District was considered Harlem West, the place to hear great jazz music. Today the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency is behind efforts to rebuild the historic Fillmore jazz preservation district. For decades The Fillmore Auditorium has showcased the biggest names in music- the Doors, Jimi Hendrix, The Pretenders, Tom Petty, Counting Crows and many others. The Fillmore Street Jazz Festival is a much-anticipated event every summer. Japantown celebrates the Cherry Blossom Festival each April. Taiko drumming, doll-making, calligraphy and martial arts demonstrations lead up to a colorful parade. LAUREL HEIGHTS / PRESIDIO HEIGHTS / THE PRESIDIO Laurel Heights and Presidio Heights are located west of Divisadero Street, east of Arguello Blvd., and south the Presidio. Development began around the 1880s, with mostly large homes being built. Today Laurel Heights is still known for its charming homes. There are a large number of apartment buildings around Laurel Heights but vacancy rates are low and demand remains high. It’s an area popular with young professionals and families. Rents are comparable to Pacific Heights and the Marina, all among the most sought after locations in the City. The Presidio is San Francisco’s former military station and now a National Park. The Presidio Residences, converted military housing, are an excellent value considering the location. Just outside the Presidio Gates are some of the most grandiose homes in the City. Presidio Heights is predominately owner-occupied single-family homes and very, very pricey! SHOPPING & DINING The area’s main commercial center is on California Street, between Laurel and Spruce. Laurel Heights Village has just about every convenience: banks, cafes and restaurants. Sacramento Street from Lyon to Laurel is another area full of boutiques that cater to the little luxuries in life. You’ll find locals lined up for breakfast at any one of the many neighborhood eateries.
In the Presidio, leftover military buildings have slowly been converted to civilian use including a gym and a huge sporting goods warehouse store. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION & PARKING Public transportation from Laurel Heights is great. Muni lines: 1 California, 2 Clement, 3 Jackson, 4 Sutter, 43 Masonic. Golden Gate Transit. Parking in Laurel Heights can be difficult near the commercial areas and the hospital. POINTS OF INTEREST At the northern-most tip of San Francisco, is the Presidio, 1,500 acres of pine, cypress, and eucalyptus forests, grasslands, meadows, ocean bluffs, trails, beaches, the city’s last free-flowing creek, and the remains of 220 years of military occupations. Now part of Golden Gate National Recreation Area, the park has spectacular views of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco. As part of the Presidio redevelopment project, the former Amy station now houses a world-class 18-hole golf course and George Lucas’ $300 million Letterman Digital Arts Center. The four building, 800,000 square-foot LucasFilm campus is at the east end of the Presidio. MARINA DISTRICT San Francisco’s prestigious Marina District occupies the northern tip of the City. The Marina is primarily residential in nature and buildings are well maintained making this a quiet, clean and very desirable neighborhood. Charming older apartment buildings and expensive single-family homes offer excellent views of the Bay and Golden Gate Bridge. The Marina District is a cozy refuge for young professionals on the rise, as well as wealthy socialites and lifelong residents. Competition for a unit in the Marina is fierce. Rents are on the upper end of the scale, but residents believe the charm and distinction of the Marina is more than worth the price. SHOPPING & DINING Chestnut Street (from Fillmore to Divisadero) is the “main drag” in the Marina District. Catering to a mostly young local clientele, Chestnut Street offers a variety of specialty boutiques, national retail stores, cafes, bars and restaurants. Lombard Street is a busy commercial street and Union Street is a reasonable walk. For grocery shopping there’s the Marina Safeway located across from Fort Mason. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION & PARKING Public transportation is a breeze to and from the Marina District. Muni lines: 22 Fillmore, 28 19th Avenue, 30 Stockton. Driving and parking in this district can be a little easier than in other areas of the City, however, some difficulty might be found parking near Chestnut Street. Residential permit parking is available. The Marina District offers great access to the Golden Gate Bridge and Golden Gate Transit (to and from Marin/ Sonoma counties) makes stops on Lombard Street. POINTS OF INTEREST The Marina Green, a long strip of green lawn, is the social center of the Marina District. It’s popular with sunbathers, runners, bicyclists and power walkers. A paved path running the length of the Marina Green is known as Golden Gate Promenade. The Marina Green is a great spot to fly a kite or take in spectacular views of the Bay and Golden Gate Bridge. The Palace of Fine Arts, a remnant from the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exhibition, houses the Exploratorium, a hands-on science museum for young people. THE MISSION Located south of Highway 101 and Market Street, the Mission is one of San Francisco’s oldest neighborhoods. On those uniquely San Francisco days when the rest of the City is shrouded in fog, the Mission District is typically bright and sunny. Once an area overlooked by many, the Mission has grown in popularity as rents in San Francisco have escalated. With its rise in popularity have come upscale restaurants and bars.
New Listings Updated in Real Time at RentalGuide.com b 29 An ethnically diverse district, the Mission is heavily populated by the City’s Hispanic community. Housing consists mainly of less expensive Victorian flats and houses. In recent years a number of warehouses have been converted into live/ work-style loft buildings.While the neighborhood has seen tremendous gentrification the crime rate would still be considered above average in the Mission. SHOPPING & DINING You won’t find a better burrito at a lower price anywhere in the City and colorful bargain shops guarantee you hours of free entertainment (not to mention apartment furnishings). Nearby Valencia Street has experienced a gentrification in the past few years and several of the City’s hippest and most well reviewed restaurants and bars are located here. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION & PARKING Muni and BART are both easily accessible in the Mission District. Muni lines: 12 Folsom, 14 Mission, 22 Fillmore, 26 Valencia, 27 Bryant, 33 Stanyan, 49 Van Ness, 53 Southern Heights. BART: Mission-16th Street station, Mission 24th Street station. Street parking in The Mission can be a challenge, especially Valencia Street on weekend evenings or near Mission Dolores on Sunday morning. Residential permit parking is available. POINTS OF INTEREST Mission Dolores, at Dolores and 16th streets, was the sixth Franciscan mission built along El Camino Real. At 18th and Dolores Streets is Dolores Park, good for a view of the city, sunbathing, tennis or a quick stroll with the dog. San Francisco’s reputation for cultural diversity is evident in the over 200 vibrant murals found in the Mission! Other points of interest include the original Levi Strauss factory on Valencia Street. NOB HILL / LOWER NOB HILL Along with some of the most luxurious hotels in the world, Nob Hill has the exclusive on some of San Francisco’s most elegant apartment buildings. Originally settled by railroad and mining magnates, the hill is a postcardperfect scene any day of the year. Only a select few will have the budget for a prime Nob Hill addresses. But as you expand the “rental radius” downhill (i.e. Lower Nob Hill) there are many rentals (in large multi-unit buildings) with a more palatable price tag. An apartment near Nob Hill offers great access for those working in the Financial District, Union Square or Civic Center. The clang of cable car bells outside your window adds to the sensory seduction of Nob Hill. SHOPPING & DINING Romantic neighborhood restaurants are a great bet and Nob Hill is within healthy walking distance of North Beach, Fisherman’s Wharf and Chinatown. Also close by is Union Square, San Francisco’s world-renowned shopping district and the theater district. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION & PARKING Access is the key here: Downtown, Union Square, North Beach, Fisherman’s Wharf and Chinatown are all within walking distance. And if you don’t want to walk, the cable car lines intersect at the top of the hill and Muni services the area. Muni lines: 1 California, 27 Bryant. Parking can be very tight, though not impossible, around the busy hotels in the neighborhood. Securing a parking spot around Lower Nob Hill usually requires driving around the block multiple times until one becomes available. Most of the luxury units have parking (though likely for an additional monthly fee). POINTS OF INTEREST Grace Cathedral, the largest Gothic structure in the West, was built here in 1928 and sits atop the hill across from the Masonic Auditorium. The 1906 Earthquake claimed the original robber barons’ mansions but their decadence is still seen at the front steps of the Mark Hopkins Hotel and the Pacific-Union Club (formerly the Flood Mansion). NOE VALLEY If you wait long enough or look hard enough, you may snag an apartment in highly sought-after Noe Valley. Located in the valley on the east side of
Twin Peaks and just south of the Castro, this neighborhood is sunny and detached enough to seem to have a pace of its own. You get a true sense of community in Noe Valley. Renovated Victorians attract as many families as young professionals. Turnover is much lower here than in other districts. Small, charming houses predominate on three steep hills overlooking the 24th-Street shopping district. The nook-andcranny placement provides views of the Bay and the other hills. Rent for a choice unit in the heart of Noe Valley rivals some of the City’s luxury districts. SHOPPING & DINING The main attraction in Noe Valley is 24th Street (between Church and Castro streets) offering coffeehouses, bars, a health food store, banks, card and gift stores. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION & PARKING Muni service is very good to and from the Richmond. Residential street parking can be competitive, especially around 24th Street. Muni lines: 24 Divisadero, 48 Quintara – 24th St., J Church NORTH BEACH Often compared to Paris’ Left Bank, North Beach has been influenced by successive waves of immigrants. It’s definitely San Francisco’s most European neighborhood but there’s more to North Beach than just pasta al’dente and strong coffee. North Beach is absolutely one of the best spots to experience San Francisco living– provided you don’t own a car! If you’re not scared off by the warning, and lucky enough to secure a rental here, you will never be at a loss for exciting diversions, delicious meals or convenient access. Narrow streets partition this historically Italian neighborhood, centered on Columbus Avenue between Broadway and Lombard streets. Rental units in North Beach cover the spectrum from old apartment buildings to single-family homes to renovated flats. Nestled between Chinatown and Fisherman’s Wharf, many residents and visitors consider North Beach to be San Francisco’s most exciting neighborhood. SHOPPING & DINING It would be difficult to make a bad choice when it comes to selecting a restaurant in North Beach. There are numerous oldworld Italian favorites and new restaurants are always coming and going. There’s a dining option to meet every budget. Italian markets and delis are common but the closest grocery store is at North Point Centre (Fisherman’s Wharf). Nearby Chinatown is an excellent source for produce and seafood. It’s difficult not to be lured by the tempting Italian bakeries. On any given afternoon cafes are crowded with the young and old engaging in debate or reading foreign newspaper, most with espresso drink in hand. After dinner stop in to one of the local bars featuring live jazz music. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION & PARKING Walking is the preferred mode of travel with North Beach residents. Living here will be all the more pleasant if you take advantage of the bus and taxis. Muni lines: 15 Third, 30 Stockton, 39 Coit, 41 Union, 42 Downtown Loop, 45 Union-Stockton. The cable car lines are also nearby. If you insist on parking, many apartments include a garage space for an additional charge. POINTS OF INTEREST The Beat movement of the 1950s and 1960s has its roots in this eclectic neighborhood and upper Grant Avenue maintains the flavor of this Bohemian culture. The oldest street in the City, Grant Avenue, is lined with tiny cafes, Barbary Coast saloons, pizza parlors and stylish boutiques. North Beach has its own grassy piazza in Washington Square Park, where elderly residents practice Tai Chi early weekday mornings. The twin-spired Sts. Peter & Paul Cathedral hugs the park and lends a graceful touch to North Beach.
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Outlined by Pine, Divisadero, Broadway and Van Ness Ave., Pacific Heights is San Francisco’s most upscale neighborhood. The stately mansions are home to the City’s social royalty, celebrities, new-money dot comers and the wealthy ‘first families’ of San Francisco. It’s popular for the views, the great neighborhood dining and shopping, parks and that safe happy feeling the neighborhood exudes. The City’s growth led to the construction of luxury towers and art-deco apartments where residents maintain entire floors. Most of Pacific Heights is comprised of private residences, but there are plenty of apartments near commercial Fillmore Street, California Street and along the outskirts of the district, referred to as Lower Pacific Heights. Expect to pay for this exclusive location; quality of life has its price tag. Like the nearby Marina, young professionals flock to the area and are willing to pay whatever it takes to secure one of San Francisco’s most in-demand zip codes. SHOPPING & DINING Most shopping and dining can be found on Fillmore Street. It has upscale shops and restaurants. There are banks and a market but the closest grocery store is located in the Marina District. Union Street is a healthy walk from Pacific Heights. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION & PARKING Muni lines: 3 Jackson, 12 Folsom, 22 Fillmore, 24 Divisadero, 1 California, 31 Balboa, 41 Union, 45 Union-Stockton. Availability of street parking varies from being readily available to near impossible on Fillmore Street. POINTS OF INTEREST Lafayette Park and Alta Plaza Park are two popular spots to walk the dog and people watch. A little Pacific Heights trivia: The Mrs. Doubtfire house is located at the corner of Broadway and Steiner streets. Just a few doors down Broadway is the Party of Five residence.There are numerous consulates in Pacific Heights. Some well-known architects favored the area; their works include the Hass-Lilienthal House, the Flood Mansion, Phelan and Spreckels Mansions. POTRERO HILL Lifelong residents of Potrero Hill have had their “best-kept secret” divulged! As real estate prices around the Bay Area, and in particular San Francisco, have soared, developers have descended on this up and coming southeastern corner of the City. A major gentrification is still in progress; Victorian restorations, condo conversions and live/work loft construction seem to be taking place on every block. Once a great place with affordable rents, Potrero Hill is now inhabited by young two-income families and techies looking for the excitement of the City with great freeway access to the Silicon Valley. You’ll find some of the sunniest weather the City has to offer and priceless views of Downtown and the Bay Bridge (but remember that views command a premium in rent). Potrero Hill rents will vary from the high side to the more moderate end of the scale. Lower rents will likely be found near Third Street or in close proximity to the housing projects. This serene neighborhood is not far from the warehouses South of Market and the piers at China Basin that gives the district an industrial feel. SHOPPING & DINING Potrero Hill has a strong community atmosphere. The small commercial district is on 18th Street, a threeblock stretch of great shopping and dining. You can always find great music at the Bottom of the Hill Club on 17th Street. There’s a strip mall located on 16th and Potrero streets with Safeway, GAP, a pet supply store and more. There’s also a Whole Foods in Potrero Hill. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION & PARKING Muni buses run to and from Potrero Hill. Muni lines: 9 San Bruno, 15 Third, 22 Fillmore, 19 Polk, 53 Southern Heights. Freeway access to Hwy 101, 280 and the Bay Bridge is excellent for commuters. Street parking is less competitive in Potrero Hill than other parts of the City. POINTS OF INTEREST The Anchor Brewing Company is located on Mariposa Street with tours available by reservation. RICHMOND Framed by the Pacific Ocean, the Golden Gate Bridge and Golden Gate Park, the Richmond District is within driving distance to almost any corner of the City. Rents in this middle-class district vary from affordable apartments
and in laws to lovely flats commanding top dollar. Those in the market for larger units (3BD, 2BA) may have better luck looking in the Richmond or Sunset Districts. Divided by Golden Gate Park, the Richmond and Sunset both reflect San Francisco’s ethic diversity with their significant Asian and Russian communities. The University of San Francisco is located nearby on Fulton Street. The Richmond, like the Sunset, has some of the foggiest weather in the City, but on an occasional sunny day there’s nothing like taking in the sunset from Ocean Beach. SHOPPING & DINING Coming from Downtown via Geary Blvd. (one on the City’s busiest streets), you’ll notice Irish pubs, sports bars, and scores of good Asian eateries. A variety of shops line Clement Street, the Richmond’s other commercial street. Clement Street has more of a neighborhood ambiance than Geary Blvd. and there are many great restaurants and bars, produce markets, used bookstores and Asian bakeries and specialty shops. There’s a large Safeway on La Playa near Ocean Beach. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION & PARKING Muni service is very good to and from the Richmond. Residential street parking is readily available except on busy Clement Street. Muni lines: 1 California, 2 Clement, 4 Sutter, 5 Fulton, 18 46th Ave, 21 Hayes, 28L 19th Ave Limited, 29 Sunset, 31 Balboa, 33 Stanyan, 38 Geary, 44 O’Shaughnessy. Golden Gate Transit stops on Park Presidio. POINTS OF INTEREST Golden Gate Park is about the best “back yard” anyone could ask for! Residents of the Richmond (or Sunset) have the opportunity to take full advantage of acre upon acre of green grass, lakes and ponds, paved paths, tennis courts, a nine-hole golf course, two museums (deYoung and California Academy of Sciences) and much more! The Richmond has a grand history as a playground for the rich. One-time San Francisco Mayor, Adolph Sutro, created an assembly of attractions in the City’s western reaches, among them his seven-story Victorian Cliff House. The Sutro Baths were a half-dozen indoor salt-water swimming pools with swings, slides and seating for hundreds of spectators. Only pictures remain of the decadent Cliff House (the current structure houses the Cliff House Restaurant) and the Sutro Baths burned to the ground in the 60s. Lincoln Park is home to the Fine Arts Museum (located in the California Palace of the Legion of Honor) and Lincoln Park Golf Course, a municipal course with a breathtaking view of the Golden Gate Bridge. RUSSIAN HILL / POLK GULCH With so many beautiful buildings offering stunning views, it’s no surprise that rent for a prime Russian Hill unit is on the very high end of the scale. It’s a great neighborhood and there are less expensive rental options the closer you travel towards North Beach or in the area known as Polk Gulch. The Gulch is defined as Polk Street between Union and California streets and the bordering streets. SHOPPING & DINING North of California Street there’s a variety of shops, coffeehouses and restaurants for every budget and taste. There are many small markets, a pharmacy and a health food store on Polk Street but you’ll need transportation to get to a major grocery store. Polk Street has a seedy southern portion of the street that runs through the Tenderloin. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION & PARKING Public transportation is available via Muni bus or cable car lines (Hyde Street and California Street lines). Muni lines: 19 Polk, 41 Union, 42 Downtown Loop, 45 Union - Stockton, 49 Van Ness Mission. Street parking can be tight throughout Russian Hill and particularly on Polk Street during peak hours. POINTS OF INTEREST Driving down the “crookedest street in the world” can be entertaining. The house that the famous writer Jack Kerouac lived in is on Russell Street. Local author Armestead Maupin’s “Tales of the City” series was set on Barbarby Lane – actually Macondray Lane located in Russian Hill (between Taylor and Leavenworth sts.). SOUTH BEACH / MISSION BAY Along the Embarcadero just south of Market is a burgeoning neighborhood that mixes the flavor of San Francisco’s old shipyards with new restaurants, loft spaces and sweeping views of the piers and Bay Bridge. This tiny neighborhood sprung up after the 1989 earthquake and the demolition of the Embarcadero Freeway. As fast as developers can construct housing in South Beach it’s sold or rented at the upper end of the rent scale. You won’t
New Listings Updated in Real Time at RentalGuide.com b 31 find a back yard and loft living is not for everyone, but this section of the City is popular with the affluent ultra-hip crowd. SHOPPING & DINING South Beach has great nightlife with numerous bars and restaurants. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION & PARKING Muni lines: 30 Stockton, 45 Union/Stockton, 15 Third, 42 Downtown Loop, 41 Union, N-Judah. CalTrans Depot. The parking outlook is fair, by day the area fills up with commuter cars and at evening parking is at a premium among club goers. POINTS OF INTEREST Two centerpieces of the Mission Bay redevelopment project is AT&T Park home to the San Francisco Giants and the UCSF Mission Bay Campus. Most of the new office space in Mission Bay was built to lure biotech firms. SOUTH OF MARKET / YERBA BUENA Located south of the Financial District and Market Street, the neighborhood known as South of Market (Soma) has experienced one of the greatest transitions in the City’s history. Tremendous growth and redevelopment has taken place over the past 15 years and many new rentals have come on line and been snatched up just as quickly. In the district once populated solely by industrial warehouses, most of the rentals located South of Market are modern “live-work” loft- style units. Rents are pretty true to the market with larger apartment complexes offering amenities such as workout facilities and underground parking. In recent years, SOMA has also become home to San Francisco’s film, video, multimedia and dot com industries. For the sake of convenience, South of Market can be a great choice for living close to the office. SHOPPING & DINING South of Market has emerged as San Francisco’s nightlife district with bars, live music venues, dance clubs and restaurants concentrated around Folsom and 11th sts. but rapidly expanding around the neighborhood. Clubs come and go in the warehouse spaces but Slim’s, opened by Boz Scaggs, firmly established 11th Street as the epicenter of San Francisco’s live music scene. Metreon, located on 5th and Mission sts. near Yerba Buena Gardens, offers dining, retail shopping and movie theatres. Westfield San Francisco Centre is the City’s newest retail destination. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION & PARKING As San Francisco’s transportation hub, Soma is home to both the Caltrain depot and the Transbay bus terminal. Muni lines: 9 San Bruno, 12 Folsom, 14 Mission, 15 Third, 19 Polk, 26 Valencia, 27 Bryant, 30 Stockton, 32 Embarcadero, 41 Union, 42 Downtown Loop, 45 Union-Stockton, 47 Van Ness-Mission, 71 Haight - Noriega, 76 Marin Headlands, 80X CalTrans Express, 81X CalTrans Express, 82X Presidio/ Wharves Express, 108 Treasure Island, F-Market, N-Judah. Caltrain: Depot, 2nd & King Station, Brannan Station, Folsom Station. Street parking varies around the area South of Market from good to fair to difficult. POINTS OF INTEREST The Yerba Buena cultural district is anchored by world-class museums including the San Francisco’s Modern Art Museum, Museum of the African Diaspora, Museum of Craft and Folk Art, the Contemporary Jewish Museum (opening spring 2008) . Yerba Buena Gardens is the jewel of SOMA’s revitalization, with its five-acre public gardens, Center for the Arts, Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, Zeum, skating rink, bowling alley and carousel. Moscone Convention Center is the City’s main convention and exhibition facility and the source of millions of dollars of revenue for the City each year. SUNSET / PARKSIDE / STONESTOWN The Sunset District is located in the southwestern section of the city and offers some of San Francisco’s best priced rentals as well as the foggiest weather. It’s an ethnically diverse neighborhood with the largest Asian population outside of Chinatown. The Inner Sunset (near the 9th Avenue commercial area) is moder-
ately priced living, a largely residential neighborhood near UCSF. The Outer Sunset is close to the Great Highway and Ocean Beach (though living near the beach in San Francisco does not command a premium rent, as is the case in Southern California). Golden Gate Park runs the length of the district. Nearby Parkside is the neigh-borhood near Taraval, west of 19th Avenue. The Sunset and Parkside districts offer great access to San Francisco State University. SHOPPING & DINING Most commerce in the Sunset centers around Irving Street at 9th Avenue. Here you’ll find sushi bars, coffeehouses, restaurants and produce markets. Asian specialty stores and Chinese food dominate the commercial area of Irving Street west of 19th Avenue. Stonestown Galleria is a premier shopping center. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION & PARKING 19th Avenue is a main artery connecting San Francisco with Marin County to the North and San Mateo County to the South. Muni and Muni Metro have extensive service to and from the Sunset. Muni and Muni Metro lines: N Judah, L Taraval, 28 19th Avenue, 48 Quintara POINTS OF INTEREST Golden Gate Park, the San Francisco Zoo and Ocean Beach are among the many things to see and do in the Sunset. TELEGRAPH HILL With its cottages, stepped streets and gardened lanes, it’s easy to see why artists and writers once flocked to this quintessential San Francisco neighborhood. The maze-like streets offer views of the Bay Bridge and East Bay, Fisherman’s Wharf, downtown and even Twin Peaks - it just depends on which way you turn. At the top of Filbert Street is Coit Tower, providing a beacon of light to its neighbors and a point of reference for newcomers. All of the “hills” - Nob Hill, Russian Hill, Telegraph Hill - are upscale neighborhoods with many wonderful apartments commanding high rents. SHOPPING & DINING Telegraph Hill is close to North Beach and Chinatown that offer some of the City’s best options for dining. There are a few small markets around Telegraph Hill and a few will deliver because of the hill. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION & PARKING Streets are steep but steps were constructed to facilitate the walk up the hill. Bus service is somewhat limited. Muni line: 39-Coit Tower. Residential parking can be a challenge around Telegraph Hill. Access to the Bay Bridge is good. POINTS OF INTEREST Coit Tower marks Telegraph Hill and was built as a memorial to the firefighters who fought the blazes that followed the 1906 Earthquake. TWIN PEAKS / UPPER MARKET VIEWS! VIEWS! VIEWS! At the upper end of Market Street you’ll find a high concentration of rental units, many with sweeping views of Downtown and the Bay Bridge. Modern buildings and condominiums cling to steep and sometimes winding hills in this neighborhood. Rents are not as expensive as Telegraph Hill or Russian Hill; units are clean and modern but most not quite as luxurious. Twin Peaks is removed from, but still in touch with, the hustle and bustle of the City. This lovely area is also close to the Castro, Cole Valley and an easy commute to UCSF. SHOPPING & DINING In the heart of this very residential neighborhood there isn’t much in the way of shopping, so you’ll need to visit the Diamond Heights or Market Street Safeways. The best dining options are found nearby in the Castro or Cole Valley. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION & PARKING Muni runs up and over Twin Peaks; Market St. at Castro St. is a central transfer point for lines traveling around the City. Because streets tend to wind back into the hills and bus service is limited to the major thoroughfares, individuals relying on public transportation should take this into consideration when selecting a unit. Muni line: 48 Quintara and 24th Street. Market Street is a main east to west axis so freeway access is good from Twin Peaks. POINTS OF INTEREST The view is the main reason you’ll see a caravan of tour buses headed up Market Street. UNION SQUARE / DOWNTOWN With all its designer boutiques and large department stores, Union Square
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offers some of the best shopping on the West Coast. Stockton, Post, Geary and Powell streets border the square. Pine, Bush, Sutter and Leavenworth streets, just north west of Union Square, make up the area referred to as “Downtown”.There are many fine (but older) apartment buildings on these streets and turnover is pretty high while rents are lower than other areas of the City. Units are typically studios and onebedroom apartments; many units have hardwood floors and period detail. You can’t beat Downtown for convenience to the Financial District or a walk to Union Square. The Art Academy is nearby as well. The only downside to living around Union Square might be a lack of street parking and possibly the noise from traffic on the busier streets. The area south of Union Square traveling west towards Civic Center is the Tenderloin, one of the lowest rent districts and also one of the higher crime areas in the City (including prostitution and drug dealing). SHOPPING & DINING Located around the square are Macy’s, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Tiffany, Niketown, Gucci and many, many more. There’s a great selection of coffee shops, restaurants and hotels in the area. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION & PARKING San Francisco’s famous Cable Cars go to and from Union Square where the Powell Street turnaround is located. Muni makes numerous stops on Stockton Street and regular service is available to the nearby Financial District. Muni lines: 2 Clement, 3 Jackson, 4 Sutter, 5 Fulton, 21 Hayes, 27 Bryant, 30 Stockton, 31 Balboa, 38 Geary, 42 Downtown Loop, 45 Union-Stockton, 47 Van Ness, 49 Mission, 76 Marin Headlands. Few buildings have garage parking and while there are many public garages, rates are high with the exception of the City-operated Sutter-Stockton Garage. POINTS OF INTEREST On weekends, there’s usually some form of entertainment going on in the Union Square Park but shopping is what draws the crowds. San Francisco’s theatre district is steps from Union Square. WESTERN ADDITION / HAYES VALLEY / ALAMO SQUARE The Western Addition, Hayes Valley and Alamo Square typically offer some of the least expensive rental units in the City. Rental choices consist of units in funky old Victorian buildings along with modern high-rise buildings offering many amenities including workout facilities, security and underground parking. Hayes Valley and the Western Addition have been slow to see the same gentrification as other parts of the City. SHOPPING & DINING Fillmore Street is the most popular spot for shopping and dining in the Western Addition. Nearby Japantown and Japan Center offer many great restaurants concentrated in a four-block radius. There’s a Safeway at Geary and Webster sts. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION & PARKING Muni runs throughout the Western Addition and Hayes Valley. Muni Lines: 2 Clement, 3 Jackson, 4 Sutter, 22 Fillmore, 24 Divisadero, 38 Geary, 47 Van Ness-Mission, 76 Marin Headlands, 49 Van Ness-Mission, 42 Downtown Loop. Golden Gate Transit POINTS OF INTEREST Alamo Square is home to Postcard Row – the most photographed block of homes in the world. WEST PORTAL Located in the southwest section of San Francisco, west of Twin Peaks, is West Portal, a pristine tree-lined area. Within walking distance of the avenue are churches, schools, a public swimming pool and playgrounds. Some may find West Portal a bit removed from the pulse of the City but others find it a refuge. It’s a lovely place to live and rents are about average relative to other districts, less than Pacific Heights, more than the Richmond or Sunset Districts. SHOPPING & DINING West Portal has an array of shopping and professional services extending for three blocks from the streetcar tunnel at Ulloa Street to Sloat Boulevard. There are boutiques, toy stores, spa services, hair
salons, grocery stores, coffeehouses, banks, pubs and a movie theater. West Portal also boasts some of the best Japanese, Chinese, Italian, Mexican, Polish and Indian cuisine. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION & PARKING Muni lines: 17 Parkmerced, 28 19th Ave, 48 Quintara/24th Street, K-Ingleside, L-Taraval, M-Ocean View. Access to the 280 Freeway is excellent. POINTS OF INTEREST Stern Grove features an outdoor amphitheater set among the eucalyptus trees. During the summer it’s used for free concerts featuring top-name entertainment acts.