Saint Francis’ Episcopal Church  is located at the intersection of San Fernando Way and Ocean Avenue in the Balboa Terrace neighborhood, and in part of a larger area of the city usually called West of Twin Peaks.  Once mostly sand dunes and isolated by the hills of the city from the earliest neighborhoods of San Francisco, West of Twin Peaks was known as “The Outside Lands” and is steeped in history.  Old Ocean Road stretched west down almost to the Pacific Ocean, with sundry bars and roadhouses scattered along the dusty trail in the 1800s. Following the opening of the West Portal tunnel in 1917, West of Twin Peaks became easily reached from downtown and developed rapidly.  St. Francis’ Episcopal Church was founded during this era and has its own interesting history.

Ocean Avenue is now a thriving residential and commercial corridor.   The K Muni trolley line runs along Ocean Avenue from the Balboa BART and Muni station to the east, before heading northeast to the West Portal tunnel and downtown San Francisco beyond.  Ocean Avenue is dotted with new housing construction, preserved open green space, restaurants offering a variety of multi-cultural cuisines, martial arts studios, yoga and fitness studios, billiards, and kids’ playgrounds.  Some dusty beloved old bars still remain.

The beautiful sand dunes and famous Cliff House of Ocean Beach and The San Francisco Zoo are a quick ride west on the L line.  To the northwest of the church, you can get lost in a forest on Mt. Davidson.

 

 

For more information on public transportation in and around San Francisco, see SF Muni Information or go to the website of BART: Bay Area Rapid Transit.

You can find more information about the history of West of Twin Peaks by going to the website of the Western Neighborhoods Project.

Our local neighborhood associations include the Ocean Avenue Association and the West Portal Merchant’s Association.

Housing:

When traveling to other cities around the country, San Francisco residents have been asked many times: “Is San Francisco really as expensive as I’ve heard?”  It is true that the real estate market in San Francisco is very high-priced, with the median-priced home at $1.4 million in 2018.  There is also a high demand for rental properties due to the unprecedented growth in tech companies.  The average apartment in San Francisco rents for $3600/month.  And, unfortunately, St. Francis’ does not have a rectory.  We realize that housing is the “elephant in the room” regarding our opening for a new rector, and will provide as much guidance as we can.  The San Francisco Association of Realtors offers a helpful series of videos about the various neighborhoods in San Francisco, including Districts 2, 3, and 4 for the West of Twin Peaks area.

SF Happenings:

If you have travelled by cable car or visited Alcatraz, you have already done things that many San Franciscans haven’t done in years, if ever!  From the arts to community events to exploring the parks and natural areas in and around the city, there is much more to do in San Francisco than anyone has time for.

For a sampling of things to do in San Francisco, take a look at the S.F. Chronicle’s Datebook page, or go to SF Arts.  You can explore the city by taking a walking tour, or explore one of the more than 220 parks in the city.  Within the city limits, visit The Presidio and Crissy Field, and take in views of the bridges, islands, and bay.  Some of the most beautiful natural areas in the world are within an easy drive from the city, including the Marin Headlands, Point Reyes, and the beaches and coastal cliffs of Highway One.  Just a short walk away is lovely Stern Grove, which features the annual free summer Stern Grove Festival.

 

School Systems:

St. Francis’ Episcopal is located centrally between City College of San Francisco and private Lick-Wilmerding High School to the east, and San Francisco State University to the southwest.  We are directly across the street from Commodore Sloat Elementary School, and near Aptos Middle School, both public schools.  Other private and public schools are nearby.  Visit the website of the San Francisco Unified School District and get insider tips about school enrollment at Great Schools.