San Francisco's North Beach declared one of 10 best U.S. neighborhoods
The nation's top planning organization has confirmed what Bay Area residents and smitten tourists already feel in their gut: San Francisco's North Beach is one of the greatest neighborhoods in America.
The district - which was once an Italian enclave leavened by a sprinkling of bohemians, now a dense agglomeration of sidewalk cafes and a population that spans the ethnic and social spectrum - was named as one of "10 Great Neighborhoods in America" today by the American Planning Association.
The 41,000-member organization took note of the atmospheric collage of low buildings around such historic gathering places as Grant Avenue and Washington Square. They also acknowledged the tenacious way that residents have fought to keep out chain stores and development projects that might water down "its eclectic mix of mom-and-pop shops, nightclubs and polyglot character (that) make it one of the city's most unique and authentic communities," according to the announcement.
The designation from afar, while it might seem like a statement of obvious to the fans of such institutions as Caffe Trieste or City Lights Bookstore, was greeted with proper enthusiasm by local officials. In a statement released by the association, the neighborhood's supervisor, Aaron Peskin, called the award a "fitting tribute to one of America's greatest urban neighborhoods." Mayor Gavin Newsom handed off credit: "Thanks to the efforts of our planners and engaged residents, North Beach continues to reflect the personalities of the many people who have lived or worked here for the past 100 years."
Other neighborhoods singled out by the association include Park Slope in Brooklyn, San Diego's Hillcrest district and the Pike Place Market neighborhood in Seattle.
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