Relocation Resource Guide Housing Information Academy of Art University is located throughout the city of San Francisco. The university offers guaranteed student housing for anyone who is a full-time student, but there are other housing options available. For on-campus housing information, please contact our Housing office at 1-800- 544-2787 ext. 6335 or go to www.academyart.edu. Things to take into consideration when trying to find housing in San Francisco are price, access to public transportation, and interestingly enough, the weather. You will find a listing of San Francisco Neighborhoods in this packet. Each listing includes neighborhood descriptions, public transportation options with approximate commute times, and a general idea of the weather to assist you in making an educated housing decision. You can increase your housing choices if you consider areas other than San Francisco proper. These areas include the East Bay (the Oakland-Berkeley area and Contra Costa County across the Bay Bridge from San Francisco), Marin County (Sausalito-Mill Valley-San Rafael area across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco) or the area south of San Francisco (Daly City, South San Francisco, San Mateo). There is a rental and roommate guide on the next page provided as a resource for you to begin your search. Generally, the most economical solution would be to share an apartment with someone. Remember to include transportation expenses and utilities in your monthly costs when searching for accommodations. Also keep in mind costs such as security deposits, damage deposits, and other utilities. Please research carefully. SOURCES FOR RENTALS AND ROOMMATES Keep in mind that many rental agencies charge fees for their services. Be sure to check with the different agencies to find out exactly what services are includes. Bay Area Rental Guide Homefinders Rentals www.rentalguide.com www.homefindersbulletin.com Bay Rentals (East Bay/South Bay) Roommates.com (408) 244-4901 www.roommates.com Better Property Management Roommate Express (415) 861-9981 www.roommateexpress.com www.bpm-re.com (San Francisco only) San Francisco Renter www.sfrenter.com Craig’s List** www.craigslist.org SF4Rent www.sf4rent.com Dewolf Realty (415) 221-2032 Trulia.com www.dewolfsf.com www.trulia.com Hill and Company Skyline Realty (415) 921-3040 (415) 861-1111 www.hill-co.com www.citiapartments.com **We highly recommend that you start with this website. It is free and will have new listings daily. Also try posting under “Housing Wanted” so that landlords can contact you. SAN FRANCISCO NEIGHBORHOODS In this section you will find a listing of the neighborhoods found in San Francisco proper. The information provided is the common neighborhood name, a short description, general guidelines for rental costs, public transportation choices (please see SF Public Transportation), approximate commute times to downtown, and weather commentary. BAYVIEW Candlestick Park (“Monster Park”), home of the San Francisco 49ers, is the focal point of the nearby Bayview-Hunter’s Point District. The Bayview neighborhood is bordered by Cesar Chavez (Army) St., Highway 280, and Third St. Bayview is currently experiencing the beginnings of a gentrification period. Certain areas have a history of crime. • Low to moderate rent, Muni, 45-60 min commute, sunny and warm, seasonal fog and wind. BERNAL HEIGHTS Located a few miles from downtown, this neighborhood is bounded by Mission St. to the west, Cesar Chavez (Army) St. to the north, Bayshore Blvd. To the east, and Alemany Blvd. to the south. The population is very diverse. Housing styles include Victorians and stucco homes on quiet streets. • Moderate rent, Muni, 30-40 min commute, sunny and warm, seasonal fog and wind. CASTRO Steep streets and brightly painted Victorian houses give this Upper Market neighborhood that distinct San Francisco look. Located west of the Mission, and below Twin Peaks, the Castro is a trendy, pricey neighborhood with a large gay and lesbian population. It features the historic Castro Theatre, a colorful street scene, lively nightlife, and a series of cafes, restaurants, bookstores, and boutiques. • Moderate to high rent, Muni (surface and underground service), 20-30 min commute, sunny and warm. CHINATOWN For an ethnic immersion, explore Chinatown where more than 10,000 of San Francisco’s Chinese residents have preserved their rich cultural heritage. San Francisco has one of the largest Chinese populations in the world outside of China. As you pass through the dragon-adorned pagoda gates on Grant Ave at Bush St., exotic smells, bright neon, and the sound of open-air marketplaces and foreign languages will tempt your senses. Most of the tourist attractions are on Grant Avenue. • Low to moderate rent, Muni, 15-20 min commute, sunny and warm, but can be windy. CIVIC CENTER The domed City Hall building, the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, and the San Francisco Public Library are just a few examples of the architectural splendors of the Civic Center. Opposite the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium on Van Ness Ave is a 4-block strip of the City’s beaux-arts facilities. The War Memorial Opera House, the birthplace of the United Nations and now the home of the San Francisco Opera and Ballet, and the Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall, built in 1981 for the San Francisco Symphony, are the two greatest performance halls in the city. • High to very high rent, Muni, 30-40 min commute, AM fog. COLE VALLEY Located between the Upper Haight, Sutro Forest, and Buena Vista Heights, Cole Valley is a quiet neighborhood that feels more like a village than the big city. It is populated with young urban professionals. Unique shops and restaurants make this an enjoyable area to live. • High to very high rent, Muni, 30-40 min commute, AM fog. COW HOLLOW/ UNION STREET Broadway St, Lyon St., Lombard St., and Van Ness Ave border the upscale, pricey Cow Hollow neighborhood. The first neighborhood in San Francisco to convert its gingerbread Victorians into popular boutiques, art galleries and restaurants, Union Street’s distinct, turn-of-the-century atmosphere makes a walk along its streets a delightful journey back in time, at least from an architectural perspective. The attitude along modern day Union Street, however, is anything but old-fashioned. • High to very high rent, Muni, 30-40 min commute, AM fog. DOWNTOWN/ UNION SQUARE In the center of downtown San Francisco, Union Square is know for its palms, political rallies, pigeons, and a 4-level underground parking garage. Many elegant department stores, luxurious boutiques, street merchants, hotels and theatres surround Union Square. • Very high rent, Muni & BART, 5-10 min commute, walkable, sunny but can be windy. EXCELSIOR In the Excelsior area, many of the original farmhouses stand next door to 1930s style homes. This neighborhood’s boundaries are McLaren Park to the east, the city line to the south, and Highway 280 to the west and north. This is one of the city’s best places to find affordable housing. As young couples and families search for affordable homes in San Francisco, and as the police presence in the area grows, there seems to be a sense of renewal for the neighborhood. • Low to moderate rent, Muni, 35-45 min commute, some fog and can be windy. FINANCIAL DISTRICT Extensive construction in the last 20 years has dramatically altered the Financial District’s skyline. Starting at Montgomery St. and extending east toward the Embarcadero, the bustling center of corporate and financial institutions is called the “Wall Street of the West.” Along the edge of the waterfront is the Embarcadero Center, a 4-building complex of offices, retail shops, restaurants, and apartments by David Rockefeller and Associates. • Very high rent, Muni & BART, walkable, 5-10 min commute, cool and windy. HAIGHT-ASHBURY Adjacent to the panhandle of Golden Gate Park is the birthplace of the 1960s hippie era Haight- Ashbury. Some sections of the Haight are still reminiscent of that colorful period with vintage boutiques, dark nightclubs, bookstores, and cafes. The intersection of Haight and Ashbury streets, formerly referred to as Hashbury, was the gathering place for deadheads who came to pay tribute to Jerry Garcia when he died in 1995. The Haight is divided into two sections: Upper and Lower Haight. The Upper Haight is bordered by Stanyan, Fulton, Divisadero, and Waller streets while the Lower Haight is defined by the half- dozen blocks of Haight St. between Buchanan and Divisadero streets. The gorgeous century-old Victorian houses that dominate the area’s residential streets are split into multi-unit apartments. • Moderate to high rent, Muni, 25-35 min commute, AM and seasonal fog. HAYES VALLEY The neighborhood is filled with galleries, boutiques, antique shops, and restaurants for any taste. The area includes Hayes St from Alamo Square at Pierce St. to Davies Symphony Hall at Van Ness Ave. • Low to moderate rent, Muni & BART, 15-20 min commute, sunny and warm. HUNTER’S POINT Located in the southeast corner of the city between Candlestick Park (“Monster Park”) and Bayview, Hunter’s Point has some of the best weather in the city and spectacular views of the area. The majority of the buildings were originally constructed by the U.S. Navy during World War II to temporarily house 35,000 workers. An artistic community thrives in Hunter’s Point and a new recreation area is currently being developed. This part of the city has a history of crime. • Low rent, Muni, 40-50 min commute, sunny and warm, but can be windy. INGLESIDE The Ingleside District was the site of one of San Francisco’s early racetracks and is now a large- scale residential neighborhood. When viewed from the air or on a map, Urbano St.