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Curbed Cup 1st Round: (1) Yerba Buena vs. (16) Visitacion Valley

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Which neighborhood should advance to the second round?

Millennium Tower in San Francisco’s Yerba Buena neighborhood. Photo by Patricia Chang / Curbed SF

Yerba Buena

Few neighborhoods made headlines as much as Yerba Buena. For starters, it will host the impending Salesforce behemoth, poised to be the tallest building in San Francisco upon completion; the new Transbay Center, featuring, among other things, exterior walls using a groundbreaking geometrical pattern by British mathematical physicist Dr. Roger Penrose; and 181 Fremont, a super sleek and chic residential tower that oozes flagrant luxury.

And let’s not forget that, in addition to much-needed housing cropping up all over the contemporary neighborhood, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art opened its new Snøhetta-designed expansion this year to polarizing fanfare.

But what really tipped this ‘hood to the forefront was the Millennium Tower, a structure that made headlines around the globe after it was revealed it was both sinking and tilting with alacrity because the 58-story structure isn’t drilled into bedrock. No bueno.

Visitacion Valley with Muni T train. Photo by SPUR

Visitacion Valley

Down near the border of San Francisco lies one of the few still affordable neighborhoods left in San Francisco. At least 29 homes sold for under $1 million in Visitacion Valley alone. In addition to somewhat reasonable asking prices, it also has a beautiful greenway that goes right through the neighborhood, as well as views of the little bungalows of Little Hollywood and the "mountain" of Bayview Park.

That’s not all. Along with a few developments still in the works—the San Francisco Chronicle hinted in 2015 that Viz Valley (as it’s colloquially known) might be the next SoMa—the neighborhood remains a diverse one when compared to the homogenous makeup of the rest of San Francisco. “You know, it’s one of the few working-class neighborhoods left in the city,” says Amy Keyishian, “It’s vibrant with immigrants and happy school kids.”

What’s more, can Yerba Buena brag that it has its own Eichler? Nope. But Visitacion Valley sure can.

The decision is in your hands: Which area should advance? Cast your vote below, and may the best neighborhood win. Remember, polls close in 24 hours.