Bernal Heights Business
The main business district of
this bohemian neighborhood runs down Cortland Avenue. If you are looking
for Wal-Mart you will not find it in this neighborhood. This community
has actively opposed the invasion of the homogenized mega store of
corporate America in favor of encouraging small markets, restaurants,
fruit stands and barber shops. These locally owned businesses can
provide you with your needs and help keep the hip small town feel
of this structured community. There are a number of trendy boutiques
and haute cuisine eating establishments that have invaded the otherwise
down home business community of Bernal Heights.
A survey conducted
in 1979 indicated that about half the residences in this area are
rented and owners occupy the other half. Around 65 percent of the
homes here were constructed before World War II and nearly 28 percent
were constructed 15 years since the war. Sixty percent of the buildings
here are single-family homes, duplexes and multi-unit complexes.
The range of prices for homes here runs between $400,000 and $1,300,000,
with the average home selling for $534,000 in 2001. |
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Bernal Heights grew from a big Mexican land grant that was granted
to Don Jose` Cornelio Bernal It was named Rancho Rincon de las Salinas
y PotreroViejo. The original use was for grazing cattle. Bernal hill
was surrounded by salt marshes of San Francisco Bay.
Bernal Heights was basically undeveloped when it survived the 1906
San Francisco earthquake and subsequent fire undamaged. The solid
bedrock of Bernal Hill resisted the liquefaction of the lowlands and
attracted the survivors of the quake to start building on this rural
knoll. At that time Bernal Heights was not connected to gas or electric
lines but there was a massive building program that continued from
the earthquake up into the 20’s. The rural nature of the area persisted
for some time and even today is evident even in the middle to the
city. The post earthquake building boom created the painted ladies
one of the most famous landmarks of San Francisco. |