# Pacific Heights, San Francisco

Pacific Heights (often referred to as Pac Heights) is a neighborhood in San Francisco, California, United States. It has panoramic views of the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco Bay, the Palace of Fine Arts, Alcatraz, and the Presidio.
The Pacific Heights Residents Association defines the neighborhood as stretching from Union Street to Bush Street in the north–south direction and from Van Ness Avenue to Presidio Avenue in the east–west direction. The San Francisco Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Services defines its north–south extent more narrowly, with Green Street and California & Pine Streets serving as its boundaries. Pacific Heights is situated on a primarily east–west oriented ridge that rises sharply from the Marina District and Cow Hollow neighborhoods to the north to a maximum height of 370 feet (110 m) above sea level. Pacific Heights features two parks, Lafayette and Alta Plaza. Visible to the north are the Golden Gate Bridge, the Marin Headlands, and Alcatraz Island. Visible to the south are Twin Peaks and the Sutro Tower.
A 2013 article named Pacific Heights one of the most expensive neighborhoods in the United States. Since that year, Pacific Heights remains one of the ten most expensive neighborhoods in San Francisco.
Lower Pacific Heights refers to the area located south of California Street down to Post Street. While this area was previously considered part of the Western Addition, the new neighborhood designation became popularized by real estate agents in the early 1990s.

## History

The neighborhood was first developed in the 1870s, with small Victorian-inspired homes built. Starting around the beginning of the 20th century, and especially after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, many were replaced with period homes. Still residential, the area is characterized by painted Victorian style architecture.
In 2024, venture capitalist Neil Mehta purchased a number of buildings a Fillmore Street, a shopping corridor, through a series of LLCs and began the Upper Fillmore Revitalization Project.

## Notable places

The oldest building in Pacific Heights, Leale House, located at 2475 Pacific Avenue, was built in 1853, though the majority of the neighborhood was built after the 1906 earthquake. The architecture of the neighborhood is varied; Victorian, Mission Revival, Edwardian, and Château styles are common.
There are numerous historic mansions in Pac Heights, including the Spreckels Mansion, the home of sugar tycoon Adolph B. Spreckels; the Whittier Mansion which served as the German Reich's West Coast headquarters during WWII, and many more.
Several countries have consulates in Pacific Heights. They include Italy, Greece, Vietnam, South Korea, China, and Germany.
Most of the neighborhood's boutiques and restaurants can be found along Fillmore Street, south of Pacific Avenue. Other businesses in Pacific Heights are located on California and Divisadero Streets, as well as on Van Ness Avenue.
Pacific Heights is home to several schools, including the San Francisco University High School; Drew School (formerly Drew College Preparatory School); the Hamlin School; Convent of the Sacred Heart High School; Stuart Hall High School, San Francisco Waldorf School, Academy of Thought and Industry, and Town School for Boys, among others. The celebrated Grant Elementary School was open on Pacific Ave from 1922 to 1972. Its students included children of diplomats, the well to do, and the adjacent Presidio military base. Current elementary schools include Hillwood Academic Day School, which opened in 1949.

## Parks

Pac Heights is home to numerous parks, including Lafayette Park, Alta Plaza Park, the Bush/Broderick Mini Park, the Cottage Row Mini Park, and the Hamilton Recreation Center.

## Events

Pac Heights has played host to many notable events -- both ongoing and one time -- such as:
* The annual Fillmore Jazz Festival
* A one time ski jump event, featuring an artificial snow jump at the corner of Broadway and Fillmore, which was hosted by Johnny Mosley, San Francisco’s Norwegian Consulate, and others.

## Government and infrastructure

The San Francisco Police Department Northern Station serves Pacific Heights. The neighborhood is in San Francisco's District 2, and is represented by former Stephen Sherrill, a former policy advisor to Mayor Bloomberg. Sherrill was appointed by outgoing mayor London Breed after Catherine Stefani, who served from January 30, 2018 – December 2, 2024, was elected to the California State Assembly, representing the 19th district.

## Notable people

* Larry Ellison, co-founder and chairman of Oracle Corporation
* Gordon Getty, billionaire businessman and composer
* Ann Getty, philanthropist, publisher, anthropologist, socialite
* Dagmar Dolby, widow of Dolby Laboratories founder Ray Dolby
* Jonathan Ive, former chief designer at Apple Inc.
* Jay Paul, billionaire real estate developer
* Nancy Pelosi, former Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and her husband Paul Pelosi
* David O. Sacks, venture capitalist
* Danielle Steel, author
* Peter Thiel, co-founder of PayPal

## Gallery

* The C. A. Belden House on Gough Street is a late Revival Style home with Queen Anne and Beaux Arts features. The house is on the National Register of Historic Places in San Francisco.
* Consulate-General of Russia in San Francisco
* Typical house entrance in Pacific Heights
* The house used for exterior shots of Mrs. Doubtfire, taken shortly after Robin Williams' death, with a fan-made tribute at its front steps