17 ASHBURY STREET #3

The hill upon which 17 Ashbury is perched has many names:  Lone Mountain and University Terrace are two, but my favorite is El Divisadero, from the Spanish divisadero, which means a point from which one can look far … 17 Ashbury No. 3 lives up to this name, with four oversized bay windows from which one can truly see a long long way.  The morning sun streams brightly in all of them, with the sunrise over Mt. Diablo discernable on a clear day.  The dramatic changes in the reflections off the skyscrapers downtown, the twinkling lights at night and the view uphill of St. Ignatius enliven the home at all times.  The period details, custom Marvin windows and beautiful hand-made linen window shades lend the elegance of another time, while out the windows you can clearly see that you are in the 21st century.

17 Ashbury No. 3 has more to offer than just a great view and period details – it is a well laid out 2 bedroom half floor flat, with a gracious entry foyer and updated kitchen and bathroom.  As you enter, the main bedroom is to the right, and you pass the bathroom before entering the large living room directly in front of you.  The living room connects to the left through beautiful French doors to the 2nd bedroom.  Off of the foyer to the left is the eat-in kitchen with stainless appliances, recently painted cabinets and ample pantry space.  The floorplan is flexible in that you could use it as an oversized 1 bedroom with a formal dining room or office if you choose.  There is in addition an easy to access large parking space with its own garage door and a convenient storage closet on the ground level perfect for bikes, holiday ornaments and touch up paint.

In 1870 developers started building in the area now known as NOPA because Governor Henry Haight announced the development of Golden Gate Park. Homes were built one at a time in what was seen as a luxurious new suburb called the Western Addition.  17 Ashbury was constructed in 1925, across the street from what would become part of the University of San Francisco’s Lone Mountain campus.  At that time, the towering cathedral  was already up the street, St. Mary’s Medical Center (c. 1911) had been operating nearby at Hayes & Stanyan for several years and the location was desirable because it was close to Golden Gate Park, it’s Panhandle and Museums (the California Academy of Sciences, (c.1916) and the DeYoung Museum (c.1895),  

Today NOPA is replete with some of the best eateries and grocery stores San Francisco has to offer.  17 Ashbury is steps from Lucky’s, a quick walk to Target or Trader Joe’s at Geary & Masonic, BiRite on Divisadero, Faletti Foods on Broderick and the Sunday NOPA Farmer’s Market.  For takeout, or outdoor dining, many NOPA restaurants are open and ready to feed the hungry.  Just across the street, enjoy fresh beer and pub fare at Barrell Head Brewhouse, awesome burritos at Papalote, and Iraqui cuisine at Jannah, or mosey over to Divis for BBQ at 4505 Meats, modern Italian cuisine at Che Fico Alimentary or cornmeal crust pizza at Little Star.  And, on the way home, you can appreciate some of the oldest cypresses and eucalyptus in San Francisco strolling in the Panhandle.