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

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

The Pacific Heights Residents Association defines the neighborhood as stretching from Union Street to Bush Street in the north–south direction and from Van Ness Avenue to Presidio Avenue in the east–west direction.[5] The San Francisco Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Services defines its north–south extent more narrowly, with Green Street and California & Pine Streets serving as its boundaries.[6] Pacific Heights is situated on a primarily east–west oriented ridge that rises sharply from the Marina District and Cow Hollow neighborhoods to the north to a maximum height of 370 feet (110 m) above sea level.[7] Pacific Heights features two parks, Lafayette and Alta Plaza. Visible to the north are the Golden Gate Bridge, the Marin Headlands, and Alcatraz Island. Visible to the south are Twin Peaks and the Sutro Tower.

A 2013 article named Pacific Heights one of the most expensive neighborhoods in the United States.[8] Since that year, Pacific Heights remains one of the ten most expensive neighborhoods in San Francisco.[9][10]

Lower Pacific Heights refers to the area located south of California Street down to Post Street. While this area was previously considered part of the Western Addition,[11] the new neighborhood designation became popularized by real estate agents in the early 1990s.[citation needed]

History

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The neighborhood was first developed in the 1870s,[12] with small Victorian-inspired homes built. Starting around the beginning of the 20th century, and especially after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, many were replaced with period homes. Still residential, the area is characterized by painted Victorian style architecture.

Attractions and characteristics

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

Several countries have consulates in Pacific Heights. They include Italy,[13] Greece,[14] Vietnam,[15] South Korea,[16] China,[17] and Germany.[18]

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

Pacific Heights is home to several schools, including the San Francisco University High School; Drew School (formerly Drew College Preparatory School); the Hamlin School; Convent of the Sacred Heart High School; Stuart Hall High School, San Francisco Waldorf School,[19] Academy of Thought and Industry,[20] and Town School for Boys, among others. The celebrated Grant Elementary School was open on Pacific Ave from 1922 to 1972. Its students included children of diplomats, the well to do, and the adjacent Presidio military base.[21] Current elementary schools include Hillwood Academic Day School, which opened in 1949.[22]

Events

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

Government and infrastructure

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The San Francisco Police Department Northern Station serves Pacific Heights.[25]

Notable people

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Statewide Database". UC Regents. Archived from the original on February 1, 2015. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
  2. ^ "California's 11th Congressional District - Representatives & District Map". Civic Impulse, LLC.
  3. ^ "Pacific Heights neighborhood in San Francisco, California (CA), 94109, 94115, 94123 subdivision profile - real estate, apartments, condos, homes, community, population, jobs, income, streets". www.city-data.com. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  4. ^ Mueller, Christina (January 12, 2023). "Explore Pac Heights, San Francisco's iconic neighborhood". SFGATE. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  5. ^ "Mission Statement." Pacific Heights Residents Association. Archived on November 2, 2010
  6. ^ "SF Find Neighborhoods | DataSF | City and County of San Francisco". San Francisco Data. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  7. ^ Bakalinsky, Adah (October 9, 2013). Stairway Walks in San Francisco. Wilderness Press. p. 66. ISBN 978-0-89997-637-2.
  8. ^ "Americas Most Expensive Neighborhood". 2013. Archived from the original on April 5, 2017.
  9. ^ "The Most Expensive Neighborhoods in San Francisco". Prevu. June 13, 2023. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  10. ^ "A Guide to San Francisco's Most Expensive Neighborhoods". California.com. August 13, 2020. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  11. ^ O'Brien, Tricia (2008). San Francisco's Pacific Heights and Presidio Heights. Arcadia Publishing. p. 7. ISBN 978-0-7385-5980-3.
  12. ^ Richards, Rand (2002). Historic Walks in San Francisco: 18 Trails Through the City's Past. Heritage House Publishers. p. 305. ISBN 978-1-879367-03-6.
  13. ^ "San Francisco Italian Consulate".
  14. ^ "Consulate General in San Francisco - Hellenic Republic - Greece in the USA". www.mfa.gr. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  15. ^ "English – VietNam Consulate". vietnamconsulate-sf.org. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  16. ^ "San Francisco South Korean Consulate".
  17. ^ "Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in San Francisco". www.chinaconsulatesf.org. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  18. ^ Amt, Auswärtiges. "Federal Foreign Office - German Missions in the United States". Seitentitel. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  19. ^ "San Francisco Waldorf School".
  20. ^ "Academy of Thought and Industry". Archived from the original on November 19, 2017.
  21. ^ "Classically inspired — and connected". Retrieved April 25, 2017.
  22. ^ [1] The Hillwood Herald
  23. ^ Goldfader-Dufty, Sid (June 30, 2023). "Stuff to do: Fillmore Jazz Fest, SFDanceworks, 'Top Gun' in the Presidio". Mission Local. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  24. ^ SFGATE, Dan Gentile (October 3, 2020). "Remembering the controversy of the 2005 Fillmore Street ski jump". SFGATE. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  25. ^ "Northern Station." (Archive) San Francisco Police Department. Retrieved on September 1, 2013.
  26. ^ a b c John Arlidge (March 17, 2014). "Jonathan Ive Designs Tomorrow". Time. Time Inc. Retrieved March 22, 2014.
  27. ^ "Jay Paul". Forbes. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  28. ^ Amanda Holpuch, What We Know About the Attack on Nancy Pelosi’s Husband, New York Times (October 29, 2022), "The Pelosis have owned a three-floor red brick townhouse in San Francisco’s exclusive Pacific Heights neighborhood since 1987."

Notes

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