Bayview

In the Bayview-Hunter’s Point neighborhood, change is quickly creeping into this oft-forgotten corner of San Francisco.

Before, the 49ers’ former stadium at Candlestick Park was the only draw. But now, affordable condos are popping up all over, a 700+ acre mixed-use development is in the works, and upscale eateries and retailers are moving in.

Just take the T-line light-rail down Third Street, Bayview’s main commercial thoroughfare, and you’ll see the boom firsthand.

Chic restaurants like Radio Africa & Kitchen and Limon Rotisserie now call the neighborhood home, and existing landmarks, like the Bayview Opera House, are getting much-needed improvements.  Plus, hip coffee shops, like Trouble Coffee, and organic supermarkets, like Fresh & Easy, are taking over formerly abandoned storefronts.

In the district, new condo construction is booming as well – and it’s one of a few San Francisco neighborhoods that remains affordable.

For instance, 5800 3^rd Street – a 239-unit, mixed-use development in the heart of the neighborhood – sold out its first 137 condos in less than a year, with many homes priced under $500,000. Currently, the second phase of the project, which will add more homes, is underway and selling fast.

Just down Third Street, the San Francisco Shipyard and Candlestick Point developments — the largest construction projects in San Francisco in more than a century — have the potential to turn this neighborhood into a thriving economic hub. The 780-acre development will add up to 12,000 new homes, a 7-block retail market, 300+ acres of open space and new offices.

The San Francisco Shipyard at the former Hunter’s Point naval base just broke ground, and will add thousands of affordable bay-front homes to the market. The first 88 of which are set to hit the market this spring. They’re priced-to-sell, too, in the low-to-mid $500,000 range.

Candlestick Point, the redevelopment of the 49ers’ former stadium, envisions even bigger changes for the neighborhood. The Point’s plans include a major shopping district, high-rise residential buildings and ramped up transportation options.

In all, Bayview-Hunter’s Point is the perfect neighborhood for both first-time buyers and seasoned investors. It’s close to downtown, just a 20-minute ride via light-rail, and well-connected with the Peninsula, as it sits just east of Highway 101. And housing here remains affordable – at least for the time being.

Plus, construction is booming in southeastern San Francisco, with neighborhoods just to the north like Dogpatch, Potrero Hill and Mission Bay adding upscale residential buildings, restaurants, retailers and offices within walking distance.

All in all, the Bayview is shedding its blighted past, and transforming into a modern and exciting neighborhood. The future looks bright for Bayview-Hunter’s Point.