St. Francis Wood, San Francisco

History

St. Francis Wood was established in 1912 as an upper-middle-class residential neighborhood with streetcar access to downtown jobs. Designed as a "residence park," it reflected City Beautiful principles with curvilinear streets, landscaped medians, and decorative monuments laid out by the Olmsted Brothers. Like many planned communities of its time, the neighborhood initially included racially restrictive covenants and adopted early zoning policies that limited commercial development and multi-family housing, reflecting prevailing urban planning practices of the era.

Historic designation

On June 30, 2022, St. Francis Wood was added to the National Register of Historic Places after a campaign by residents citing the neighborhood’s origins as a 20th-century residence park and its collection of architecturally significant homes. The historic designation requires construction projects to undergo review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), which may add costs and approval time. New projects must also be compatible with the area's historic character, which typically includes two-story single-family homes with spacious yards.

The designation received criticism from housing advocates and State Senator Scott Wiener, who argued it could hinder efforts to add new housing in the neighborhood and potentially conflict with state housing laws aimed at increasing density. Supporters of the designation, including the St. Francis Homes Association, maintained that the intent was to preserve the neighborhood’s architectural heritage and emphasized that the community is open and diverse.

Demographics

In the two 2020 census tracts that contain St. Francis Wood 2020 census, at least 80% of the residents are White or Asian. The median household income is $188,400.

References

References

1. "St. Francis Wood Demographics and Statistics on Niche".
2. "Saint Francis Wood neighborhood in San Francisco, California (CA), 94127 detailed profile". Urban Mapping, Inc..
3. (Oct–Dec 2014). "Researching Residence Parks". SF West History.
4. Project, Western Neighborhods. "St. Francis Wood".
5. Guinn, By Jordan. "Neighborhood spotlight: St. Francis Wood". SFGATE.
6. "Racial covenants, a relic of the past, are still on the books across the country". NPR.
7. writer {{!}}, Benjamin Schneider {{!}} Examiner staff. (2022-07-14). "St. Francis Wood earns historic designation, sparks backlash".
8. https://statisticalatlas.com/neighborhood/California/San-Francisco/St-Francis-Wood/Race-and-Ethnicity#top
9. "The Demographic Statistical Atlas of the United States - Statistical Atlas".