A RUSSIAN HILL PERSPECTIVE THE NEIGHBORHOOD The 1000 block of Chestnut Street is perched above what was the Spring Valley Water Company Lower Russian Hill Reservoir, now being developed as one of San Francisco’s newest neighborhood parks. Another reservoir, the Upper
“To the west of Telegraph Hill lies Russian Hill, named for a Russian colony whose cemetery was allegedly at the crest of Vallejo Street. Its buildings are alternately luxurious apartment towers and modest individual houses; the latter are often old, shingled, and surprisingly rural. To the student of land use San Francisco offers
Russian Hill Reservoir, was located within the block bounded
more of such agreeable illogical juxtapositions than most
by Lombard, Hyde, Larkin and Greenwich. At the turn of the
cities, and Russian Hill more than other parts of the city.
twentieth century, this portion of Russian Hill was dotted with
In spite of slopes so steep that one street is even zig-
wood frame cottages and a few larger dwellings. There also
zagged (the famous block of Lombard between Hyde and
remained a number of undeveloped parcels. In 1906, the fire
Leavenworth), this hill has some of the most rewarding
caused by the Great Earthquake lapped at the western slope
pedestrian territory in the city. The reservoir park of
of Russian Hill, but a number of houses along Larkin and
Lombard between Hyde and Larkin, the numerous cul-
Lombard Street survived the conflagration.
de-sacs such as Montclair and Culebra Terraces and the end of Vallejo Street offer views of the city which are often missed by those who travel only by car.”
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Architect T. Paterson Ross designed the handsome, pre-fire set of flats at 1001 Chestnut Street at Hyde, which had a lovely marble entry stair, classical detailing, rounded bays and arched dormers. A house with an extensive garden once occupied a lot that filled the entire middle of the block between Chestnut and Lombard. It was demolished in the 1980s to create the sprawling complex known as Lombard Place. After World War II, San Francisco became a permanent home to many of the service men stationed at Bay Area posts and to workers who migrated here to support wartime industry. A post-war building boom followed. There are a number of largescale, post-war apartment buildings with a modern aesthetic in the vicinity, including two in the 1000 block of Chestnut Street.
Sanborn Map Company, detailed maps of U.S. cities and towns in the 19th and 20th centuries, first gained recognition for creating richly detailed fire insurance maps. Library of Congress. Soon to be Francisco Park opening this year. Lombard Street under construction in 1922. San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library.
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