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!
Mid-Market photo (left) via SF Citizen; Marina photo (right) via SF Recreation & Park
The race for the Curbed Cup continues with Mid-Market going up against the Marina. Which district will advance? Your vote decides!
First up, Mid-Market. Back in the day, this is not the neighborhood where you would find a host of game-changing businesses, a high-end eatery, and a fancy grocery. That's all changed with the likes of Twitter, The Hall, and The Market moving into this district. They are joined by high-end rentals, such as those in the NEMA building (and more are on the way). Old stand-bys have vanished (such as Flax Art & Design), to be replaced by housing; but new, non-condo faces are joining the mix (such as the new Strand Theater—an offshoot of American Conservatory Theater).
Then we have the Marina, one of the city's most picturesque neighborhoods, thanks to it's proximity to the San Francisco Bay. In a fast-changing city, this well-established neighborhood has retained its character for many years. But at least one big change is on the horizon: The Palace of Fine Arts' future is in question, and what it should be has been a fiercely contested debate this year.
· A Three-Bedroom at NEMA Will Cost You $8,950/Month [Curbed SF]
· With New Housing Looming, Flax Art & Design Plans Its Move [Curbed SF]
· Mapping 38 Transformative Mid-Market Development Projects [Curbed SF]
· Tour the In-Progress Revamp of Mid-Market's Strand Theater [Curbed SF]
· Palace of Fine Arts Moves Toward New Tenant as Furor Grows [Curbed SF]