| Bernal Heights | |
|---|---|
| — Neighborhood of San Francisco — | |
| The Bernal Heights hill and microwave tower. | |
| Nickname(s): Bernal, BH, Bernalwood | |
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Bernal Heights
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| Coordinates: | |
| Government | |
| • Board of Supervisors | David Campos |
| • State Assembly | Tom Ammiano (D) |
| • State Senate | Mark Leno (D) |
| • U.S. House | Nancy Pelosi (D) |
| Area[1] | |
| • Total | 3.4 km2 (1.320 sq mi) |
| • Land | 3.4 km2 (1.320 sq mi) |
| Population (2008) | |
| • Total | 24,178 |
| • Density | 7,069.9/km2 (18,311/sq mi) |
| [2] | |
| ZIP Code | 94110, 94112 |
| Area code(s) | 415 |
Bernal Heights is a neighborhood in San Francisco, California which was cut out of the Rancho Rincón de las Salinas y Potrero Viejo land grant from where it get's its name from the grantee José Cornelio Bernal.[3]
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Bernal Heights lies to the south of San Francisco's Mission District. Its most prominent feature is the open parkland and microwave tower on its large rocky hill, Bernal Heights Summit. Bernal is bounded by Cesar Chavez Street to the north, San Jose Avenue to the west and freeways I-280 and US 101 to the south and east.
Bernal had its origin with the 1839 Rancho Rincon de las Salinas y Potrero Viejo Mexican land grant to José Cornelio Bernal (1796–1842). By 1860, the land belonged to San Francisco financier, Frenchman François Louis Alfred Pioche (1818–1872), who subdivided it into smaller lots.
Bernal remained undeveloped, though, until the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. Built atop bedrock, the hill's structures survived the temblor, and the sparseness of the development saved much of Bernal from the ravages of the firestorm that followed. The commercial corridor of Cortland Avenue filled in with shops as the pastureland on the hilltop was developed for workers' homes during the rapid rebuilding of the city. Some of the tiny earthquake cottages -- that the city built to house quake refugees—survive to this day, including three which were moved up to Bernal Heights. During World War II, the area saw another population surge including many African American families thanks to its proximity to the San Francisco Naval Shipyard at Hunters Point. During the Vietnam War, the neighborhood was known as "Red Hill" for the anti-war activists in shared households and collectives who moved in among the working class families.
By the 1990s, Bernal's pleasant microclimate, small houses (some with traditional Victorian or Edwardian architecture) and freeway access to the peninsula and Silicon Valley led to a third wave of migration. Bernal has not gentrified to the extent of its neighbor Noe Valley, but gentrification and property values are increasing as urban professionals replace working-class home owners and renters. Bernal is a haven for young families with children.[4]
Notable residents include: Tom Ammiano, Dan Nakamura, Annie Sprinkle, Terry Zwigoff, Matt Nathanson, children's author Jane Wattenberg (aka Mrs. Mustard) and Matt Stewart (author).
In the 1990s the neighborhood has a large influx of gays and lesbians. This new group of residents took to remodeling the dilapidated houses and the housing prices skyrocketed and businesses became trendy and upmarket as a result.[3] The community has one of the highest rates of lesbians with children giving it the namesake "Lesbian Hill".[3]
The neighborhood is primarily residential, with a commercial strip along Cortland Avenue featuring restaurants, a bookstore, a bakery, a video store, a grocery store, a wine and beer store, cafes and bars. The local branch of the San Francisco Public Library at 500 Cortland was built by Frederick Myers with funding from the Works Progress Administration and dedicated in 1940. After closing for nearly two years for renovations, the library reopened in January 2010.
A strong tradition of neighborhood activism led to the establishment of the Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center in 1979. It works to promote community organizing, affordable housing services, senior services and youth services.
Bernal's north slope has been referred to as one of San Francisco's "banana belts", with warmer temperatures from the San Francisco Bay and less marine fog making its way inland.
The grassland on the hilltop is home to a remarkable urban ecosystem, including the California poppy, raccoons, opossums, skunks, a variety of raptors (including American Kestrels, Red-tailed Hawks, Cooper's Hawks, Sharp-Shinned Hawks, and Great Horned Owls), and, at times, at least one coyote. The microwave tower is a major connection point for the metropolitan San Francisco area. Bernal Hill Park is a designated "off-leash" park for dogs, and it is a destination for many dogs and their owners as it is one of the largest parks in San Francisco. Bernal Heights Boulevard, which circles the hill top, has about a one mile (1.6 km) long path of asphalt and hard packed sand for walking and running that is closed to motor traffic. It is also the site of the San Francisco Illegal Soapbox Society's annual derby.
Precita Park and Holly Park provide grassy play areas for children and adults to the north and south of the hill, respectively. The southeast corner of Bernal Heights is home to the open-air Alemany Farmers' Market, one of the oldest extant farmers' markets in the US, operating every Saturday in this location since August 4, 1947.[5] A flea market occupies the market area on Sundays.
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| Noe Valley | Mission District | Potrero Hill | ||
| Glen Park | Islais Creek/Butchertown | |||
| Bernal Heights | ||||
| Excelsior | Portola | Silver Terrace |