San Francisco Neighborhoods · Presidio Terrace
Presidio Terrace
Fog zoneSan Francisco's hidden oval of grandeur — a single private street where about three dozen century-old mansions sit behind a gate just south of the Presidio.
- One of SF's first private residence parks (1905)
- Gated, ultra-exclusive single oval street
- Steps from the Presidio and Clement Street
- Quiet, leafy, and storied
On the map
Open Presidio Terrace on the map →The story
Presidio Terrace was laid out beginning in 1905 by the real-estate firm Baldwin & Howell as one of San Francisco's first private 'residence parks,' built just south of the Presidio. About 35 to 36 grand mansions, in Beaux-Arts, Mission Revival and Tudor Revival styles, line a single privately owned oval street entered through a gate off Arguello Boulevard. It was historically and explicitly exclusionary: a 1906 brochure boasted it was a place where 'only Caucasians' could buy, a racial covenant of the sort the U.S. Supreme Court struck down in 1948. In 2015 a San Jose couple bought the private street and its common areas at a city tax auction for about $90,000 after the homeowners' association failed to pay roughly $14-a-year property taxes for decades; in November 2017 the Board of Supervisors voted to reverse the sale and return the street to the homeowners. Notable residents have included Senator Dianne Feinstein and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Things most people don’t know
One private oval
About 35 mansions ring a single privately owned oval street, entered through a gate off Arguello Boulevard.
The $90,000 street
In 2015 a couple bought the private street at a city tax auction for about $90,000 after the HOA missed roughly $14-a-year taxes for decades.
Sale reversed
In November 2017 the Board of Supervisors voted 7-4 to reverse the sale and return the street to the homeowners.
Notable residents
Past residents include Senator Dianne Feinstein and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
An early residence park
Begun in 1905 by Baldwin & Howell, it was among San Francisco's first private 'residence parks,' with underground utilities and electric street lights.
Eating and drinking near Presidio Terrace
Presidio Terrace is primarily residential — these sit in Inner Richmond, Laurel Heights, Presidio Heights.
Restaurants
- Spruce · 3640 Sacramento St
- Burma Superstar · 309 Clement St
Bars
- The Bitter End · 441 Clement St
- Toy Boat by Jane · 401 Clement St
Getting around and getting care
Transit. The gated entrance is off Arguello Blvd. Muni 33-Ashbury stops at Arguello and California, one block south; the 1-California runs along California St; the 2-Sutter and 43-Masonic serve nearby Presidio Heights; the 38-Geary runs along Geary Blvd to the south.
Nearest hospital. UCSF Health Stanyan Hospital (formerly St. Mary's), 450 Stanyan St (about 1.6 mi)
Thinking about Presidio Terrace?
Send me an address and I will come back with its sun, wind and fog, what is under it, and what has closed on the block.