Diamond Heights

Did Diamond Heights always look this way? Of course not. Before the modern homes and winding streets, Diamond Heights was a different landscape entirely. Diamond Heights, nestled in central San Francisco, sits on three hills: Red Rock Heights, Gold Mine Hill, and Fairmount Heights, including the charmingly named Billy Goat Hill. Imagine, back in the early 1900s, these hills weren’t covered in houses but echoed with the sounds of quarrying. The Gray Brothers, notorious for their blasting operations throughout the city, had quarries here too. In a strange twist of fate, George Gray met his end on Billy Goat Hill in 1914, shot by a disgruntled employee. Diamond Heights was also home to grazing cows, a far cry from the bustling neighborhood it is today. Diamond Heights as we see it now arose from a controversial urban renewal project. Beginning in 1948 and continuing until 1978, the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency transformed this area. The project was met with resistance from residents who cherished the area’s rural character and feared unfair compensation for their land. Despite the controversy, Diamond Heights was born. The project involved leveling hilltops, filling valleys, and designing streets that followed the natural contours of the land. The vision was a mixed-income community with a range of housing options, schools, churches, and a shopping center. Diamond Heights even boasts its own police academy. Some original homes survived the redevelopment, like the one at 70 Gold Mine Drive, built in 1895, a testament to the area’s history. The unique architecture of Diamond Heights is part of its charm. Architect Vernon DeMars designed the winding streets and terraced housing. These designs, along with the contributions of architects like Joseph Eichler, give Diamond Heights its distinctive mid-century modern aesthetic. You can still find some of those classic Eichler homes here today. The Diamond Heights Shopping Center, located on Diamond Heights Boulevard, is a hub for the community. George Christopher Playground and Walter Haas Playground provide recreational spaces. Nearby, Glen Canyon Park offers hiking trails and opportunities to observe local wildlife. Diamond Heights truly is a city within a city, offering residents a blend of urban convenience and natural beauty, a testament to a transformative, albeit controversial, chapter in San Francisco’s history.