Sunnyside

Once a lower to middle class neighborhood set against an uninteresting backdrop, Sunnyside is now gone under a major identity change. In the midst of its face lift, young professionals and single family households are moving in and changing the area’s whole character. The neighborhood is home to a cluster of 60’s style duplexes and cottages lining the street. Quant front yards with neatly trimmed lawns add to its new clean-cut image.

Sunnyside’s location is quietly nestled between Interstate 280 and San Francisco City College. The neighborhood is served by Monterey Boulevard, the area’s main commercial hub. New grocery stores and shops are sprouting up in recent years. However, it still holds some of its traditional values with barbershops and local restaurants still in business.

As for transportation, Interstate 280 gives locals direct access to commuters to the city. Glen Park to the north and Balboa Park Bart Station to the south are both within ten minute walks. And public street parking is hit or miss.

Many families come here because the neighborhood offers a respectable school system and hopes to improve in years to come. Another perk in the area is Sunnyside recreation center, which provides a playground and a picnic area. Nightlife is a bit tame, but offers a myriad of ethnic eateries and a couple dive bars.

I have relatives who live around Sunnyside, and in order to get to their house, I’d have to pass through Sunnyside. In a few words, the neighborhood isn’t all that bad. Sunnyside is a small little neighborhood that lies between neighborhoods that have suburban-ish and elegant high class homes. And because Sunnyside lies between such fancy neighborhoods, it is often forgotten in a sense. The reason I say this is because the homes in Sunnyside are your typical economic San Francisco homes, they stand right next to each other, much like the homes in the Sunset, and many other neighborhoods of San Francisco. Aside from living in houses in Sunnyside, there isn’t anything in the neighborhood. If you look around you’ll find an abundance of schools, or rather, a few schools. Here you have Sunnyside Elementary School, St. Finn Barr School, a Catholic school, Riordan High, and City College of San Francisco. Actually, there is a abundance of schools near Sunnyside, on the other side of Ocean Avenue.

Speaking of Ocean Avenue, Sunnyside is very close to this street of restaurants and small shops, however you’ll have to drive by the City College of San Francisco. I have eaten at the local Chinese restaurants on Ocean Avenue with my relatives when I visit them at Sunnyside. The atmosphere of Sunnyside is calm and peaceful, which makes it a great living environment for many.