The Curbed Cup, our annual award for the San Francisco neighborhood of the year, is kicking off with 16 areas vying for the prestigious (and fake) trophy. This week we'll have two matchups per day, and all the results and the full tournament bracket will be reviewed on Friday. Voting for each pairing ends 24 hours after it begins. Let the eliminations commence!
Castro and Potrero Hill have undergone big changes, from many newly remodeled homes, to more multi-housing units, to spiking prices. Through it all, both have managed to retain their character and charm. Today they face off, and you vote to decide which one will advance in the competition that names the best neighborhood of the year. You have a day to get it done, go! Earlier this year, we reported on a survey that showed fewer people in the Castro identified as LGBTQ. The study indicated that newcomers to the neighborhood were less likely say they were LGBTQ, however more than 70 percent of the residents still answered the question with an affirmative. The study also showed that shoppers along the Castro Corridor were predominately LGBTQ. The district has also seen a number of multi-family housing units going up, and even the iconic Metropolitan Community Church of San Francisco will be replaced by luxury condos. We called out three great neighborhood retail destinations in our guide to best shopping: Cliff's Variety, Super Simple, and Black & Gold.
Pricey homes on Potrero Hill are nothing new these days, but jaws dropped when the house at 1740 20th St. shattered records with an off-market $9.5 million sale price. More housing is headed for this sunny neighborhood, and we reported on the groundbreaking of condo developments at 645 Texas St. and 346 Potrero Ave. From Christopher's Books to Collage Gallery on 18th, many small, independent businesses remain delightfully the same.
· There Goes the Gayborhood [Curbed SF]
· LGBT-Friendly Church in the Castro to Be Born Again As Condos [Curbed SF]
· A Map of the 31 Best Design and Furniture Stores in SF [Curbed SF]
· $9.5M Off-Market Sale Breaks Record on Potrero Hill [Curbed SF]
· New Condos Break Ground on Opposite Sides of Potrero [Curbed SF]