The
initial wave of development came in the form of commercial structures
such as hotels, saloons, and restaurants, and was concentrated
near the cable car turnaround at the intersection of Haight
and Stanyan. As the primary entrance to Golden Gate Park, entrepreneurs
were able to make the Haight a primary entertainment destination
and the neighborhood rapidly became a popular weekend destination
for San Franciscans with such things as the California League
Baseball Grounds stadium which opened in 1887, and the Paul
Boynton Chute Company's amusement park, located on Haight between
Cole and Clayton.
The Haight’s role as a weekend
daytrip destination continued to govern the neighborhood’s
economy until the early twentieth century when developers started
looking into the possibility of subdividing the area with more
single-family homes. These residences were often large, and
geared towards the city’s wealthier population - sometimes
referred to as San Francisco’s “petit-bourgeoisie.”
The Chutes were dismantled around 1900 and after the lake was
drained Belvedere Street was extended past Waller to Haight
and the land continued to be developed.
After 1900, more and more three-story
flats were being built. The houses in the Haight were often
constructed by a small number of developers and contractors
who would buy up to a block of land, subdivide it into multiple
lots and build identical houses.
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