Noe Valley (San Francisco)

Noe Valley is a neighborhood in the central part of San Francisco, California. Its borders are generally considered to be roughly 22nd Street to the north, 30th Street to the south, Dolores Street to the east, and Grandview Street and the Diamond Heights neigborhood to the west (although these borders are somewhat flexible, particularly among real estate agents). The Castro neighborhood is directly to Noe Valley's north and The Mission is to its east.

Related Topics:
San Francisco, California - Diamond Heights - The Castro - The Mission

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The topographic layout is actually two main valleys. One flowing from the clipper/22nd/grand view area down 24th/jersey to Church, the other one flowing from the 27th/diamond/30th area down day to Church where it catches the first valley, then both exit the NoeValley district. This makes the hilly area relatively dry, and the soil stable regarding earthquake liquefaction. Most houses up the hills are directly on bed rock as can be seen in the Douglass playground (bare red rock).

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Traffic flow is limited - one main north access throught Castro Street to Eureka Valley, one main west access up Clipper Street to former TwinPeak toll plaza and west of the city, several east access to Mission throught 24th, CesarChavez and other numbered street, and the main north-south Church access used by the Muni Light Rail J-Church. No traffic lights needed except on Dolores Street, and at the 24th/Castro intersection.

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Noe Valley was primarily built up at the end of the 19th century and at the beginning of the 20th century, especially in the years just after the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake. As a result, the neighborhood contains many examples of the "classic" Victorian and Edwardian residential architecture for which San Francisco is famous. It's importat to note that styles and sizes are very different from PacificHeights mansions. Noe Valley being a working class neighborhood, houses were built in rows of "simple" efficient low cost layout - with some houses being more ornated depending on the owners finances. As of today, Noe Valley concentrates the highest number of "rows" the smallest being 3-4 and the largest being over a dozen identical end of 19th century houses on the same side of the same street. Few rows remain untouched. Marina Style was the fancy expensive upgrade in the early 20th century. Then came the 50s and 60s and aluminium windows and asbestos or aluminium sidings. New home owners are diligent at removing those poor upgrades, and restauring the victorian houses - or at least re-interpreting the style.

Related Topics:
19th century - 20th century - 1906 San Francisco Earthquake - Victorian - Edwardian

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The layout and naming of the streets is the work (1860s?) of John Meirs Horner - passenger of the first famous boat of imigrants in 1946. East-West streets are named for personal key words (john, elizabeth=john's wife, jersey=birth state, temple=religion...) but later every other street got renamed for the number that runs throught Mission (22nd to 30th)

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This district is still named Horner's Addition by the city assessor's office (recordig books and films are available at the city hall, north wing).

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The neighborhood is primarily residential, although there is a bustling commercial strip along 24th Street, between Church Street and Castro Street.

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Like many other San Francisco neighborhoods, Noe Valley started out as a working-class neighborhood for employees in San Francisco's once-thriving blue-collar economy, and their families. Also like other San Francisco neighborhoods, Noe Valley has since undergone successive waves of gentrification and is now considered an upscale area. It is home to many urban professionals, particularly young couples with young children, and it is not unusual for a well-maintained house in Noe Valley to sell for a million dollars or more.

Related Topics:
Blue-collar - Gentrification

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The Neighborhood is named after Jose de Jesus Noe, the last Mexican alcalde (or mayor) of Yerba Buena (present day San Francisco). It currently is or was home to Medea Benjamin, Bobby McFerrin, and Janis Joplin.

Related Topics:
Yerba Buena - Medea Benjamin - Bobby McFerrin - Janis Joplin

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