St. Francis Wood, San Francisco facts for kids

St. Francis Wood is a quiet neighborhood located in southwestern San Francisco, California. It sits south of the West Portal area and west of Mount Davidson. This neighborhood is known for its large family homes and spacious yards.

Unlike many city areas, St. Francis Wood does not have many visible shops or businesses. It is one of eight special "residence parks" in San Francisco. These parks are neighborhoods that were carefully planned to feel like living in a park. St. Francis Wood is so unique that it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

History of St. Francis Wood

St. Francis Wood was created in 1912. It was designed for families who wanted a nice place to live with easy access to jobs downtown. Back then, people used streetcars to get around.

The neighborhood's design was inspired by the "City Beautiful movement." This idea focused on making cities more beautiful with parks and grand buildings. The famous Olmsted Brothers designed the streets. They made the streets curvy and added lots of trees and green spaces. This made the neighborhood feel like a large park.

Sadly, like some other neighborhoods from that time, St. Francis Wood had rules that were not fair. These rules, called "racial covenants," stopped certain groups of people from moving in. The neighborhood also used early zoning rules. These rules allowed only single-family homes and banned apartment buildings and stores.

Becoming a Historic Place

On June 30, 2022, St. Francis Wood was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places. This happened after many years of effort by residents. They wanted to protect the neighborhood's special architectural history.

Being a historic district means that any new building projects must follow certain rules. They need to be reviewed to make sure they fit the neighborhood's historic look. This review can add extra time and cost to building projects. It also means new homes must match the typical style of two-story single-family homes with big yards.

Some people, like housing activists, have concerns about this historic status. They worry it might make it harder to build more homes in the neighborhood. They also feel it could keep the neighborhood as a place mostly for wealthy people. However, the St. Francis Homes Association says the historic status is about protecting history. They also say their community is open to everyone.

People of St. Francis Wood

In 2019, about 1,229 people lived in St. Francis Wood. Most residents are either White or Asian. The neighborhood is known for having a higher average income compared to many other places.