St. Francis Wood was established in 1912 as an upper-middle-class residential neighborhood with streetcar access to downtown jobs. Designed as a "
residence park," it reflected
City Beautiful principles with curvilinear streets, landscaped medians, and decorative monuments laid out by the
Olmsted Brothers.
Historic designation On June 30, 2022, St. Francis Wood was added to the
National Register of Historic Places after a campaign by residents citing the neighborhood’s origins as a 20th-century residence park and its collection of architecturally significant homes. The historic designation requires construction projects to undergo review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), which may add costs and approval time. New projects must also be compatible with the area's historic character, which typically includes two-story single-family homes with spacious yards. The designation received criticism from housing advocates and State Senator Scott Wiener, who argued it could hinder efforts to add new housing in the neighborhood and potentially conflict with state housing laws aimed at increasing density. Supporters of the designation, including the St. Francis Homes Association, maintained that the intent was to preserve the neighborhood’s architectural heritage and emphasized that the community is open and diverse. == Demographics ==