Discover Mount Davidson Manor, San Francisco: Homes, History & Local Life
Mount Davidson Manor was once described in a survey of San Francisco’s west-side neighborhoods as “a conservative, well manicured neighborhood of free-standing, middle-income family homes, all pre-dating World War II,” per the Mt. Davidson history project. That description still fits. The neighborhood sits at the foot of Mount Davidson. the highest natural point in The City. bounded by Ocean Avenue and Monterey Boulevard between Westwood Park and Balboa Terrace. What makes it stand out from adjacent neighborhoods is the housing stock: a complete block of single-family, tile-roofed homes built by Fernando Nelson starting in 1923 on 50 acres of former Sutro forest, with curvilinear streets that follow the hillside contours and no apartments in sight.
Is Mount Davidson Manor right for you?
Mount Davidson Manor is a genuine single-family neighborhood in a city where that is increasingly rare. The neighborhood is family-oriented with long-tenured owners and minimal renter presence.
How do you get around Mount Davidson Manor?
Mount Davidson Manor’s transit is honest to describe: there is no light-rail line through the neighborhood. The primary transit access is the 36 Teresita bus, which connects through the hill neighborhoods to Forest Hill Muni Metro station at Laguna Honda Boulevard, where the K Ingleside, L Taraval, and M Ocean View lines serve commuters, per SFMTA. The 36 runs every 30 minutes on weekdays. The K Ingleside along Ocean Avenue is also accessible on foot or a short bus ride.
Walk Score: 69. Transit Score: 67. Bike Score: 51. Source: walkscore.com, Westwood Highlands (the closest walkscore.com analo. No separate page for Mount Davidson Manor).
There is no BART station in Mount Davidson Manor. The nearest BART is at Balboa Park station, reachable by the K line.
For two-career households: one partner can commute downtown via the K Ingleside in under 30 minutes with a walk to Ocean Avenue. A partner commuting to the South Bay can drive to Balboa Park BART. A car is useful for this neighborhood.
The history of Mount Davidson Manor
Fernando Nelson arrived in San Francisco in 1876, built his first home on Church Street as a teenager, and went on to construct over 4,000 homes across The City, per Mt. Davidson history. He came to Mount Davidson Manor in 1923. The land had been part of Adolph Sutro’s eucalyptus forest. Nelson removed the trees and covered the 50-acre parcel with tile-roofed single-family homes, keeping costs low for working and middle-class families. He developed not just the houses but the streets, sewer systems, and other infrastructure.
The neighborhood was essentially complete before World War II. Pack One, reportedly the first Cub Scout pack on the Pacific Coast, held weekly den meetings in the neighborhood from 1937 through 1962, a small measure of the community stability that took root here.
What does the housing look like in Mount Davidson Manor?
Detached single-family homes are the defining and essentially exclusive housing type. Fernando Nelson’s tile-roofed Spanish Mediterranean and Period Revival styles define the streetscape, built between 1923 and the early 1940s. Homes are freestanding on curvilinear streets, most with front yards, rear yards, and garages. Interior square footage typically ranges from about 1,200 to 2,200 square feet for the standard Nelson homes, with larger examples on upper streets.
Attached homes, flats, and multi-unit buildings are not present in the core neighborhood.
Where locals eat, drink, and shop in Mount Davidson Manor
Mount Davidson Manor’s immediate commercial presence is limited. The Ocean Avenue corridor a short drive south is the primary daily-use spine, and the West Portal Avenue strip is a 10-15 minute drive northwest for the broader options.
Ocean Avenue holds a deep mix for its length: Cantonese roast meat counters, Lao and Thai kitchens, retro burger spots, Neapolitan pizza, Chinese bakeries, Italian restaurants, craft beer bars, and a Whole Foods at 1150 Ocean for grocery runs. Mount Davidson Park sits directly north and is the neighborhood’s defining open space, with hiking trails leading to the highest natural point in The City and the famous concrete cross at the summit.
Mount Davidson Manor Pros:
- Exclusively single-family detached homes with tile roofs and private yards
- Mount Davidson Park immediately adjacent: 40 acres with the City’s highest peak and trails
- Quiet, curvilinear streets with low through-traffic
- Owner-occupancy-dominan. Long-tenured residents and community stability
- Solid transit access to Ocean Avenue K Ingleside
Mount Davidson Manor Cons:
- No neighborhood commercial stri. Groceries and restaurants require a trip to Ocean Avenue or West Portal
- Primary transit is the 36 Teresita bus (30-minute headways) or a walk to Ocean Avenue K line
- No BART. Peninsula commuters need a longer connection
- Thin resale market for buyers who need comparables quickly
- Fog and marine layer is a regular feature, particularly in summer
What’s the Mount Davidson Manor market doing?
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Mount Davidson Manor is a small neighborhood where maybe 10-15 homes sell in a good year. A well-priced Fernando Nelson original in move-in condition moves quickly. Reach out to be on my list when something comes up here: luba(at)lubasf(dotted)com
Mount Davidson Manor frequently asked questions
What is Mount Davidson Manor like to live in?
Mount Davidson Manor is a genuine single-family neighborhood in a city where that is increasingly rare. The neighborhood is family-oriented with long-tenured owners and minimal renter presence.
Who is Mount Davidson Manor right for?
Mount Davidson Manor is a genuine single-family neighborhood in a city where that is increasingly rare. The neighborhood is family-oriented with long-tenured owners and minimal renter presence.
How do you get around Mount Davidson Manor without a car?
Mount Davidson Manor has a Walk Score of 69, Transit Score of 67, and Bike Score of 51. Mount Davidson Manor’s transit is honest to describe: there is no light-rail line through the neighborhood. The primary transit access is the 36 Teresita bus, which connects through the hill neighborhoods to Forest Hill Muni Metro station at Laguna Honda Boulevard, where the K Ingleside, L Taraval, and M Ocean View lines serve commuters, per SFMTA (https://www.sfmta.
What kind of homes are in Mount Davidson Manor?
Detached single-family homes are the defining and essentially exclusive housing type. Fernando Nelson’s tile-roofed Spanish Mediterranean and Period Revival styles define the streetscape, built between 1923 and the early 1940s. Homes are freestanding on curvilinear streets, most with front yards, rear yards, and garages.
What’s one thing people don’t know about Mount Davidson Manor?
Fernando Nelson arrived in San Francisco in 1876, built his first home on Church Street as a teenager, and went on to construct over 4,000 homes across The City, per Mt. Davidson history.
