“Ideal vacation without leaving the city.” That’s how Westwood Park was advertised in the 1920s. Today, we’re exploring this historic San Francisco neighborhood.
Westwood Park is a residential area in southwestern San Francisco. It’s near St. Francis Wood and City College. The neighborhood is known for its charming homes and unique layout.
In 1916, Baldwin & Howell, a real estate firm, began developing Westwood Park. They wanted to create a model home community for average families. Charles F. Strothoff, the main architect, designed nearly 500 homes. Ida F. McCain designed over 100 bungalows. Construction lasted from 1918 to 1923. It followed the end of World War I.
Advertisements promoted Westwood Park as a place to raise children. They said fresh air could replace medicine. Homebuyers chose house designs from Barrett & Hilp’s catalog. Homes had five to eight rooms and varied in price.
Westwood Park’s streets form an oval shape. Rings radiate from a central intersection. This design resembles the Olmsted tradition. Miramar Avenue bisects the ovals and features a landscaped median. Many streets end with “wood,” like Eastwood and Northwood.
The Westwood Park pillars and gateways are historic landmarks. They were built in 1916 at three intersections. These are Miramar Avenue and Monterey Boulevard. Also Miramar Avenue and Ocean Avenue. And finally Judson Avenue and Frida Kahlo Way. Louis Christian Mullgardt designed them for the developers.
Residents formed The Westwood Park Association in 1917. It served the community of 650 homes. Original documents included a racial restriction. This prevented people of African, Japanese, Chinese, or Mongolian descent from owning property.
In 1959, Dorothy Mae Provost Adams and her husband bought a house with help. The seller refused to give them the keys upon learning they were black. After months, the Adams broke into their own home and moved in. Racial restrictions were declared illegal in 1948. Still, social pressure kept neighborhoods segregated.
The racial language was removed from Westwood Park’s rules in 1992. These rules also prohibit apartments. Only single-family homes are allowed.
In 1995, Westwood Park became San Francisco’s only Residential Character District. This protects its architectural integrity. In 2024, the Westwood Park Association had the historic gates and pillars designated as a landmark. Mayor London Breed signed the proclamation. This ensures the preservation of Louis Christian Mullgardt’s designs.
The Westwood Park Association maintains the gates, trees, and landscaping. “The Home Designer” magazine called Westwood Park one of San Francisco’s show places. The name came from its location and eucalyptus woods. These woods temper the breezes from the Pacific Ocean.
Today, Westwood Park remains a charming neighborhood. Its history reflects both progress and challenges. Its unique architecture and community spirit make it a special place in San Francisco. As we leave Westwood Park, remember its story of development and change.