Inner Parkside

Inner Parkside is in the middle of it all. Here at Inner Parkside you have what the name suggests, parks. There are parks all around Inner Parkside, so you’re never far from being able to run away for peace and quiet. The same parks are also frequented by families and their children, only those that contain a playground that is, otherwise pets would be there. The West Portal Library is only a couple of blocks away from Inner Parkside. Abraham Lincoln High School is also a few blocks away from Inner Parkside, so expect to see some high school students wandering around or making their way back home. The busy part of this quiet neighborhood would be the area around Taraval Street where the L MUNI train runs through. Here you should expect a plethora of commuters waiting for the train. Not only that but 19th Avenue also runs alongside of Inner Parkside, quite the noisy street for people who live on the 19th Avenue side of Inner Parkside. This neighborhood also isn’t far from Stonestown Galleria Shopping Center, the place to go for shopping and hanging out with friends if you live around the Sunset area. Living in Inner Parkside is much like living in the Sunset, still a great place to live in though.

Inner Parkside is not very leafy in and of itself, so you definitely don’t feel as though you are in a park. However, it is very close to Pine Lake Park and also directly south of Golden Gate Park. The location is also close to some libraries including West Portal Branch and McCoppin Square.

According to City Data, the average income of residents in Inner Parkside is $100,000. This is higher than the average income in San Francisco, which is $73,000. All in all, this is a fine neighborhood. The streets are very well maintained, and the houses are cute. You also get the feeling this neighborhood is very safe.

Another major advantage to Inner Parkside is the Grove Free concert series in Stern Grove Park. If you live in Inner Parkside, you can just walk over to enjoy this amazing free concert series that features the symphony, ballet as well as popular pop artists. If you go slightly west on Taraval Street, there are a good amount of restaurants offering Chinese, Thai and Koren food.

While houses and rentals in Inner Parkside may be fairly pricey, I would say that you will get a very good bang for your investment dollar. After all, you are so close to Golden Gate Park- one of the best parks in the world. How can you lose?

Inner Parkside is a nice and quiet neighborhood especially well suited for families. 19th Avenue is a major north-south traffic artery with convenient access to the North Bay and Interstate 280 South. Taraval is another major route with good public transportation via the MUNI Route L line that spans from the Oceanside San Francisco Zoo all the way to Downtown.

Not much has changed in Inner Parkside since the early 1970’s. There are many well-established family-run businesses and restaurants. There are several independent grocers in the area. There is even a suburban-style shopping mall nearby called the Stonestown Galleria. Parking is pretty good along the neighborhood’s residential streets. Most of the dwellings in this area are charming single- and multi-family homes built during the post-WWII 1950’s.

The Inner Parkside has a pretty sleepy nightlife. However, the bustling bars and restaurants of Irving and 9th Street area are just a short bus ride away north along 19th Avenue.

One thing to note about the greater Sunset District is that the weather in the summer can be downright gloomy. Oftentimes the sun does not break through its foggy barrier for days at a time. However, in late spring or early fall the Sunset is one of the most pleasant areas in San Francisco with fresh ocean breezes and spectacular, you guessed it, sunsets.

Inner Parkside offers a low key neighborhood. Like the geography -- grid like and stable -- the area itself is that way. Stable without much night life going on.

For those who like to head north to Marin or south on weekend, 19th Ave. is close by and makes getting out of town (especially south) fairly convenient, though beware of traffic backups on 19th.

One of the nicest features of Inner Parkside, especially if you live in the south, is the easy access to Stern Grove where you can catch free concerts and cultural events in the summer. The festivities go on each summer and have been since 1938 -- check their web site for details of upcoming events. http://www.sterngrove.org/