Public spaces change fast here in San Francisco, and for better or worse, it can be pretty crazy when you see what the City used to look like. Every week, we'll bring you Then & Now, a comparison of historic photos of the Bay Area with current views from the same perspective. Have a suggestion for a photo comparison that looks totally different (or shockingly the same)? Drop us a tip in the Curbed Inbox or leave a comment after the jump.
Quick note: See that vertical green bar in the middle of the then and now photos? You can move it horizontally to see the photos side by side.
[Then photo: SAN FRANCISCO HISTORY CENTER, SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC LIBRARY/ Now photo: Google Maps] Established in 1917, Westwood Park is one of those hidden picturesque gems tucked away on the west side of the city. Bound by Monterey Boulevard, Ocean Avenue, Faxon Avenue, and Phelan Avenue, $35 rented you a house, and the neighborhood quickly became popular after the opening of the Twin Peaks Tunnel.
Created by real estate firm Baldwin & Howell, the neighborhood evolved where the land was once Eucalyptus groves of Sutro Forest. When the Twin Peaks Tunnel opened in 1918, parts of the city previously difficult to access opened up for real estate speculation. The Westwood Park neighborhood was designed to take advantage of the views provided by the hilly terrain, so other than the main boulevard of Miramar Avenue and a few short intersecting streets, there are no straight roads throughout.
Westwood Park neighborhood, c1920s [Photo: SAN FRANCISCO HISTORY CENTER, SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC LIBRARY]
Most of the houses were built between 1918 - 1923, and nearly 80% of them were designed by architect Charles F. Strothoff. The buildings are mostly bungalows with craftsman details, further adding to the value and appeal of the neighborhood today. Too bad rents aren't still $35 a month - the current average sale price of a Westwood Park home is about $800k.
· A Short History of Westwood Park [Westwood Park Association]
· Westwood Park [Outside Lands]
Loading comments...