Russian Hill
Neighborhood Intelligence

Russian Hill (SF Planning's Russian Hill Analysis Neighborhood) rises between Van Ness Avenue on the west and Mason Street and Columbus Avenue on the east, running from Jefferson Street and Aquatic Park on the bay south to Clay Street. Besides the hill itself, known for its steep streets, hidden stairways and lanes such as Macondray Lane, and the winding block of Lombard Street, the analysis neighborhood includes the northern Polk Street corridor and the western edge of Fisherman's Wharf around Ghirardelli Square and the Hyde Street Pier. About 17,000 people live here.

Housing is mostly apartment buildings, condominiums, and flats, with some single-family homes on the upper slopes. Zoning is dominated by RH-3 and the RM-1, RM-2, and RM-3 apartment districts, with smaller RH-1, RH-2, and RTO-C areas and RC-3 and RC-4 near Van Ness. Polk Street is zoned as the Polk Street Neighborhood Commercial District (NCD), with the Pacific Avenue and North Beach NCDs at the edges, NC-1 corner parcels, and C-2 near the waterfront. Notable places include the crooked block of Lombard Street, Ghirardelli Square, Aquatic Park, Macondray Lane, and George Sterling Park.