Bayview Hunters Point

The Bayview-Hunters Point neighborhood is one of the largest in the City. It extends from Cesar Chavez Street south to San Francisco’s border with the City of Brisbane and from Highway 101 on the west side of the neighborhood east to the Bay. It lies within the City’s sunbelt and has the largest bayfront area.

Although Hunters Point is its own separate geographic area, it and Bayview are always referred to as one large neighborhood. Additionally, India Basin and Candlestick Point are also located within Bayview Hunters Point.

Though the neighborhood, in general, does not have a great reputation for aesthetics and safety, it is one of my favorite areas in the City because of the weather, access to and views of the Bay, and the immense choice of housing options. It is also a tranquil neighborhood since it is not a tourist destination, nor is it too close to downtown. Therefore, it feels like you are far away from the City.

Housing

Since the neighborhood covers a large area, there is a wide range of housing options available; everything from single-family homes to apartments, condos, townhouses, plus new developments already completed, and others in various stages of development. Additionally, it is still one of the few neighborhoods in the City where you might find vacant lots to build your own home.

If you decide or are looking, moving into Bayview-Hunters Point, your best bet is to spend a sufficient amount of time exploring the various parts of the neighborhood to find the right place for you. As usual, the things to consider are easy access to public transit, safety, schools, shopping areas, and so on. We will cover these topics below.

Safety

Unfortunately, the neighborhood has some of the most incidents of crime in the City. Due to its size, some pockets are quite safe, and others are not very safe at all. Typically, this is a generalization, the central part of the neighborhood tends to experience more crime than other parts of the neighborhood or the City. In contrast, the northern and western parts of the neighborhood tend to be a lot safer. Therefore, we recommend you research the neighborhood before relocating there to ensure it meets your safety level requirements. A good source to carry out this research is going to the following website: www.spotcrime.com.

Getting Around

There are no BART stations nearby; however, this neighborhood’s main corridor is Third Street, where the Third Street Rail line traverses the district in the north-south direction. This transit line connects the neighborhood to BART stations downtown, Caltrain, and other bus lines crisscross the Bayview.

Since there is a large network of bus lines serving this neighborhood, some are suspended due to the pandemic; it is best to visit the City’s transit system website at www.sfmta.com.

Although there are some hills within this neighborhood, most of the area’s surface is very flat. Therefore, biking to and from here is a great way to get around. There are a few dedicated bike lanes, plus many streets where there is minimal traffic. So, getting around is relatively safe and not too strenuous. Visit the following website to view the bike lane map for the City https://www.sfmta.com/maps/san-francisco-bike-network-map.

Shopping and Dining

As previously stated, Third Street is the main corridor for the neighborhood. The shops range from restaurants and bars to banks, retail and markets. However, in general, the Third Street corridor in this area has been economically depressed for decades. Even before the start of the pandemic, 1 in 5 store-fronts on Third Street was shuttered. And there are many reasons why this particular area has not thrived as others in the City. Still, the important thing to remember is that there are many potentials to improve the commercial corridor of this neighborhood. To that end, the City has implemented and continues to try and improve the situation, but success has been slow to arrive.

If you decide to live in the Bayview, my recommendation is to become an active participant in improving the neighborhood; starting with economic development. If the City continues to invest time and funds in the neighborhood, plus residents get involved and become engaged in the process, the opportunities for both merchants and residents are limitless.

Parks and Recreation

There are many small parks, plazas, and green spaces. However, the main and/or largest parks are:

• Heron’s Head Park, which is located on the Bay at the end of Cargo Way. The park is actually a narrow section of land that jets out into the water like a small peninsula.
• India Basin Shoreline Park is located on the Bay just south of Heron Head’s Park. It has a nice large lawn with trees and walkways that meander through the area. There is also a children’s playground located on the grounds.
• Candlestick Point State Recreation Area is a large park with pedestrian paths, picnic tables, and even some small beaches. It is actually a great place to take your dog(s) for a walk.
• Bayview Park is located just to the east of the intersection of 3rd Street and Highway 101. The park consists primarily of a hill that you hike up and is rewarded with the City and Bay views when you reach the top. In general, the park is very rustic, and due to its location and lack of flat area, it is terribly underutilized. However, it is worth taking a hike up there and burning some calories.

Schools and Libraries

Due to the neighborhood’s size and the number of additional schools in adjacent neighborhoods, we recommend you visit www.sfusd.edu to research local public schools for your child or children. You can also visit www.niche.com for additional information and reviews regarding the school.

There is one private middle/high school in the area. It is called Rise University Preparatory, and it is a Christian institution. Its yearly tuition of $2,100 makes it among the most reasonable private schools in the City. For more information regarding Rise University Prep, please visit their website.

Additionally, several newer alternative and charter schools in the neighborhood, including Big City Montessori School and KIPP Bayview Academy. Also, as noted earlier, the Mission District, for example, and other adjoining neighborhoods, has many more schools to choose from.

Bayview Linda Brooks-Burton Branch Library is the main is located at 35075 Third Street. It is the only public library within Bayview Hunters Point. It is a relatively new and large building, which, in normal times, offers various programs and a sizable collection of books and Wi-Fi computers for public use.