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San Francisco- Financial District - Large Studio – Converted 3 Car Garage with Free Internet (mission district)- Studio has an open floor plan with linoleum flooring and measures 21’ x 19’4”, approximately 406 square feet. Kitchen includes a refrigerator and a gas range. View More Listings -->
Financial District Information
The Financial District is a neighborhood in San Francisco, California that
serves as its main central business district. The area is marked by the
cluster of high-rise towers that lies between Grant Street east of the Union
Square shopping district, Sacramento Street and Columbus Street, south of
Chinatown and North Beach, and the Embarcadero that rings the waterfront. The
city's tallest buildings, including the Bank of America tower and the
Transamerica Pyramid, are located here.
The District is home to the city's largest concentration of corporate
headquarters, law firms, banks, savings & loans and other financial
institutions, such as the corporate headquarters of VISA, Wells Fargo Bank, the
Charles Schwab Corporation, Barclays Global Investors, The Gap, and the Union
Bank of California among others. The headquarters of the Bank of California, the
12th district of the United States Federal Reserve, and the Pacific Stock
Exchange (although no longer located in that building) are located in the area
as well. Montgomery Street ("Wall Street of the West") is the traditional heart
of the district. There are several shopping malls in the area including the
Crocker Galleria, the Embarcadero Center, the Ferry Building, and the Rincon
Center complex.
The area was the center of European and American settlement during Spanish and
later Mexican rule. Following American annexation and the Gold Rush, the area
boomed rapidly and the Bay shoreline, which originally ended at Battery St, was
filled in and extended to the Embarcadero. Gold Rush wealth and business made it
the financial capital of the west coast as many banks and businesses set up in
the neighborhood. The west coast's first and only skyscrapers, were built in the
area along Market Street.
The neighborhood was completey destroyed in the 1906 Earthquake & Fire (although
miraculously, the area's skyscrapers survived), and rebuilt. Because of state
wide height restrictions due to earthquake fears, the district remained
realtively low-rise throughout the 20th century until the late 1950s, when due
to new building and earthquake retrofitting technologies, the height
restrictions were lifted, fueling a skyscraper building boom. This boom
accelerated under mayor Diane Feinstein during the 1980s under her plan of "Manhattanization".
This caused widespread oppostion citywide leading to the "skyscraper revolt"
similar to the "freeway revolt" in the city years earlier. The skyscraper revolt
led to the city imposing extremeley strict, European style height restrictions
on building construction citywide.
Due to these height restrictions, (which have been relaxed and overlooked over
the years), overcrowding, and changes and demand in the local real esate market,
development in the area, as well as the district's boundaries as a whole have
shifted to SOMA as the focus has shifted from building office space, to high
rise condominiums and hotels. Notable examples include the Four Seasons Hotel,
and The Paramount, currently the tallest condominums on the west coast.
Some Things to Consider When Looking for a Place...
When searching for a new apartment make sure to take your time to think
through what are the most important things to you in an apartment and plan your
search based on those priorities. Here are some things to consider when planning
your move:
1. Consider the areas where you would like to live
* What is the crime rate?
* If you have children - what rating does the local school system have?
* Is there area convenient shopping, health and recreation services in the area?
2. Make a list of your housing priorities
* Do you have pets?
* Do you need parking?
* Do you need to be on the ground floor?
* What amenities are important to you - swimming pool, fitness room, in unit
laundry?
3. Evaluate the building
* What is the condition of the unit and building?
* Are the grounds maintained?
* Are windows, steps, and railings in good condition?
* View the property at night. Is it safe and well lit?
4. The security of the property
* Are there security service? When is the guard on duty?
* Does the building have controlled access?
* Does each unit have secure door and window locks?
5. Talk to the neighbors
* Ask other residents whether they are satisfied with the building.
6. Amenities
* Who is allowed to use the amenities?
* When are they open?
* Are the fees charged to use those facilities included in rent?
7. Ask about Utilities
* Does the owner or tenant pay the utility bills?
* Are any utilities included with monthly rent?
* Do units have separate thermostats to control heat and air conditioning?
8. Review the lease
* How much notice must you give before moving out?
* Can the rent be increased? If so, by how much and how often?
* Are pets allowed?
* What is the security deposit and cleaning costs upon move out?
* What is the responsibility of tenants for damage to property?
* Is there a penalty for breaking a lease?
9. Information too bring to a lease signing
* Credit Report
* Pay stubs/tax returns
* Reference
* Application