The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-27
Many Noticeable Improvements
Going on in the City
Suburbs.
INTERVIEWS WITH BROKERS
Energetic Efforts Put Forth by the
Residents of Outlying
Districts.

is the vitality given to the suburban dis
tricts by the enterprising cooperation of
the residents of those sections and by the
extension of streetcar lines, which has
had much to do toward inducing those
persons seeking homes to push out away
from business centers.
The people living among the Mission
hills have done much to enhance the value
of their property and to bring it nearer to
the center of the City by securing the ex-
tension of the several streetcar lines to
the county line. Castro, Noe and Eureka
valleys, which a few years ago were con-
sidered remote from the business center,
have been made valuable and populous
districts by the energy of the residents and
property-owners.
The opening OF the Joost electric road
gave a great impetus TO the Paramount
district, which lies south of Thirtieth
street and extends west from Dolores
street to the Twin Peaks range of hills. 1t
growth, too, was greatly stimulated by the
extension of the Mission-street car line,
completed about year ago.
The Potrero has not been behind in the
march of improvement during the past
year, and one of that sections greatest
way facilities throughout the district con-
meeting the territory, as is now the case,
with all the leading downtown retail ar
teries. There is more hope Just now for
the Potrero than in a long time.
The Folsom-street residents recently
awoke to the fact that their property has
been decreasing in value for several years
past, and that their street, which Is one of
the main thoroughfares south of Market,
has been standing still. BY united effort
they have secured an appropriation of
$35, 900, the first step toward the rejuvIna-
ton of Folsom street from tide water to
the Mission hills.
The district south of the park panhan.
die and including the site of the old
Haight-street baseball grounds, subdivided
some SIX months ago, has grown like
Aladdin castle, which arose in a night,
and what was an expansive waste few
years since is now prosperous and
thickly settled portion of the City. En-
terprise of good building character, such
as this district possesses, cannot go on at
too rapid rate.
The extension of the settlement south
OF the park is only a matter of q very
short time. This is prediction conceded
by all since the acceptance of the Sutro
site for the Affiliated Colleges, the con-
struction of which will be followed by the
Sutro Library. The opening of these in
situations will lead to other improvements
and serve to attract the attention of home
seekers and spectators.
The westward growth of the CITY is rap
idly filling up all vacant land in the West
ern Addition, and 1t cannot be many years
before the overflow will be crowding into
the area on the other side of the cemeteries
till further progress is stopped at the beach
by the ocean. In less than ten years Pre-
sidio Heights, covered with sand dunes
and growth of chaparral, has become one
OF the most sought for and finest residence
localities in the City. Few districts have
witnessed such a change as that expert
enced in Richmond property west of the
cemeteries, between the Preside and
Golden Gate Park; and the transition is
likely to be accelerated by the railroads
extending their lines westward through
the district.
On every side the spirit of improvement
is manifest. The property-owners of each
section are Ylelng with those of every other
district in an effort to build up their par
ticular portion of the City.
In speaking Of the improvements south
of the park, Wendell Easton said IN re-
cent Interview:
One of the most important sections of the
City, comprising an ownership of number of
prominent people OF this City, lying adjacent
10 Golden Gate Park on the south, and west of
First avenue, has received its due proportion
quite extended improvements. A concerted
movement was made not long since by the
property-owners south OF Golden Gate Park,
from First avenue to Eighteenth avenue
which finally succeeded in getting the estab-
lishment OF grades, which has encouraged
moderate improvements in grading OF streets
and construction of q few dwellings.
The donation of Adolph Sutro for the If
fliated Colleges on Parnassus avenue, which
is the extension of Sullivan street extending
south of the park, has given an interest to
the more important class of improvements and
will result in bringing TO the official grade
quite piece of land lying between First and
the park.
This work undoubtedly will be carried on
from seventh avenue TO Seventeenth avenue
ana means the opening of important streets,
sewerage system, as well as improvements of
general character
The abandonment of the METROPOLITAN Rail
way is inducing the Market-street people to
construct an electric line to take the place of
the dummy line now on II street. and without
doubt the railway competition 10 the ocean,
now developing, viii bring about the entire
reconstruction OF this line. An improved cleo
trio system, with quick transportation from
the center of the City, with one fare from the
ferry, would mean quite an impetus to the sec
ton known rs the South Side.
The Park Commissioners have just let the
contract Tor the boulevard south and connect
ing with the old Ocean-house road which is
to be completed by the LIST of May This i'm
provement Will undoubtedly be the base line
OF Improvements in the western portion of this
section, and, all in all, it is a safe prediction
that 1t Will not be long before this territory
viii be reclaimed from drifting sand-dunes
and become desirable portion of the City for
residence purposes.
In discussing the developments OF the
Southwest Mission, ]. ]. O'Farreu last
week remarked:
The extension OF the electric street railways
In the Southwest Mission and the vast i'm
provements made on the Mission road have
opened up and brought into close connection
with the business center portion of the CITY
heretofore considered remote and largely set
tied by the working classes. The homes of the
better class built in this section of San Fran
cisco last season-win run far up into the thou
SANDS. since the extension of the Mission car
line wonderful transformation has taken
place along its course. An era of street i'm
proyement and the establishment OF mark on
this side is fully expected
1t is evident that this district is becoming q
more favored residence location. Since the adj
vent of means of rapid transit, many people
have secured homes in the Mission and pratt
fed desire to live in the mild and balmy nor
lion of the City. Speculation, too, IN Mission
property cannot result disastrously for it is in
line with the certain development of the City
With City unbounded by large BODY of water
or abrupt hills it is difficult sometimes TO tell
which point of the compass will mark the trend
of the City's growth, but with San Francisco
there is no room for error. The property-own
ers of the Mission have made good showing
dt,rn Xyhi 4 iSa H.