Glen Park
Glen Park is a small, distinct neighborhood which offers its residents the
best of both big-city and small-town. During the earliest phase of the
neighborhood's history, Glen Park was popularly known as "Little
Switzerland," due to its scenic landscape and the presence of
Swiss-owned dairies. Some still use the moniker.
In "the village," Glen Park's shopping district, dressmakers
work next to cutting-edge chefs. Early Victorian homes sit next to modest
apartment buildings and 1930 to 1940-era residences. A wide expanse of green
provides plenty of space to jog.
Neighborhood Details
Cost of Housing
Cost of living in the San Fran area is among the highest in the nation for a
major metropolitan area. One-and two-bedroom homes sell for $600,000 to $800,000
and sometimes more for homes with 1,200 square feet or less. A two-story,
three-bedroom, two-bath home with less than 1,400 square feet, recently sold
for nearly $1.3 million. Condos, once the area's "affordable
housing" go for $500,000 and up, with few units available in the
$500,000-$600,000 range.
New comers to the neighborhood can expect to pay $1,000 a month for a few
one bedroom units, studios and rooms. Neighborhood veterans can take
advantage of rent controls which keep housing affordable. Larger, better
equipped one-bedroom units are rare for less than $1,500. Expect to shell out
$2,000 or more for two bedrooms.
School System
Glen Park is served by the San
Francisco Unified School District where the quality of
the public schools varies widely. Some parents turn to private schools, such
as a branch of the Live Oak school program in nearby Noe
Valley or Lick-Wilmerding High School, a nationally ranked college
preparatory school with an emphasis on technical arts.
Entertainment
As one of the southern most neighborhoods of San Francisco, Glen Park also offers superb
access to the rest of the city without being in the middle of the action. The
main shopping village mixes sophisticated restaurants with coffeehouses, taquerias, pizza shops and bookstores, many of them mom
and pop establishments. The mix gives the neighborhood a village atmosphere.
Glen Park's residential area surrounds its namesake, a 500-foot deep,
canyon-studded open space called Glen Park which is popular with joggers, picnickers
and their canine companions.
The neighborhood often hosts guided architectural tours because the
area’s home architecture shows off generations of San Francisco building styles, ranging from
Victorian to modern.
Transportation
Glen Park is right next to Highway 280, the main route north to San Francisco
yet it has the advantage of being a little off the beaten path. Silicon Valley
is 15 miles south, which can be a 45 minute to an hour drive away, depending
upon traffic conditions.
Residents of the Glen Park neighborhood have their own BART (Bay Area
Rapid Transit) station. Board the efficient rail line and get to downtown
San Francisco, three miles away, in 10 minutes. The drive can take almost three times that long
during peak traffic.