Twin Peaks West Apartments for Rent

Twin Peaks West was once a heavily wooded tract of land on the western side of San Francisco’s two highest hills. It offers some of the most dazzling views of the San Francisco Bay Area. There was no interest in development until after the Twin Peaks’ Tunnel opened in 1918, offering direct access to the downtown core. Construction started in earnest in the mid-1950s, when developers created individual pocket neighborhoods, each with its own flair.

One example is Diamond Heights, a rare tract-style community offering suburbia within minutes of the downtown area. Another is Sherwood Forest, with its sprawling ranch-style homes. One is called the Dream House and was built in the 1940s as part of a KGO Radio promotion. A weekly radio program encouraged callers to share their design ideas. Those ideas were combined. The house was built and then opened to the public. Eventually it was sold.

The city did manage to hold on to some of that forested land, including the Mount Sutro Open Space Preserve. Most of the trees, many more than 100 feet tall, are eucalyptus planted in the latter part of the 19th century. Visitors are welcome to wander the trails and even pick wild blackberries in season. Mount Davidson, the highest peak in San Francisco, is on the southern end of Twin Peaks West. At the very top of the hill is the 103-foot-tall Mount Davidson Cross. If it looks familiar it is because part of the movie Dirty Harry was filmed there in 1971.

Schools are plentiful throughout Twin Peaks West. The area is also close to City College of San Francisco to the south and San Francisco State University to the southwest. The Stonestown Galleria Mall is next to the university. Golden Gate Park and its recreational delights are three blocks north.