Daly City

Broadmoor is a neighborhood surrounded by Daly City — it’s been called the “hole in the donut of Daly City" — and it carries an impressive origin story. Its history can be seen in its homes, a result of the economic boom following World War II. Several street names are even named after prominent figures and locations in the war, like MacArthur Drive, Manila Way and Midway Drive. Broadmoor also is unencumbered by its larger neighbor. “What’s unique about Broadmoor is that it’s an unincorporated area, separate from Daly City,” says Robert Garrison, owner of Garrison Properties with over 45 years of real estate experience. “They have their own police department as well.” With its rich history and unique location, Broadmoor shows that small neighborhoods can still have their own identities. As a result of the growing need for housing in the late forties and fifties, much of Broadmoor’s residential areas are similar in design. Single-story ranch-style and Colonial-Revival homes with Craftsman elements are popular, along with the occasional split-level. Prices range from $770,000 to $990,000 for a three-bedroom home while larger three- and four-bedroom homes can cost as high as $1.4 million. The neighborhood is also home to the Broadmoor Property Owners Association (BPOA), a volunteer-led organization that meets monthly to discuss issues and resolutions. Rebecca Husted, a real estate advisor for Cocoran Icon Properties and director of the BPOA, says most homes sit on larger lots than those in contemporary neighborhoods. "For context, Daly City has many 25x100 'postage stamp' lots while Broadmoor has at least 5-6,000 square feet per lot. Most are on level lots but some slope down or up, depending on location." Many Broadmoor schools are within walking distance of residential areas. Garden Village Elementary School received a C-plus grade from Niche and Benjamin Franklin Intermediate School holds a B-minus. The A-minus-rated Jefferson High School is also home to Mission Fusion, a dance show that represents the rich diversity of the community through a blend of culture and art. Mr. Pizza Man not only serves its namesake specialty but also includes unique menu options like Brazilian churrasco and barbecue pork ribs. Drip and Melt serves paninis, melts and breakfast burritos. City Kebabs & Gyros. Daly City Supermarket and Safeway both make convenient stops for grocery runs, and Kukje Supermarket offers Korean grocery items. Whether it’s grabbing a slice of pizza, getting a blowout or finding the latest in home goods, the Westlake Shopping Center has it all in one place. Since 1922, Lake Merced Golf Club has been open to professionals and amateurs, as well as the host for numerous golfing championships. Palisades Park includes Pacific Ocean views and an area for the pups while Westmoor Park has a playground for the little ones. Thornton State Beach, less than two miles to the west, is great for hiking, though the climate frequently leans toward cold and windy so dressing in layers is advisable. Several houses of worship are within easy reach of Broadmoor. From the Chinese Myanmar Buddhist Association and the Kja Temple to Broadmoor Presbyterian and Daly City Church of the Nazarene, the neighborhood is open to multiple religious practices. Commuters can use Interstate 280 to get to downtown San Francisco, requiring only a 10-mile drive. Extending for 57 miles running north and south, I-280 connects San Francisco to San Jose. There's also route 35 – also known as Skyline Boulevard. Public buses are available through SamTrans, with stops along Washington Street and Maddux Drive. San Francisco International Airport is roughly eight miles southbound, and North County Health Center is near the west side of the neighborhood, less than a mile away.

Situated between the wind-swept Pacific coastline and the slopes of San Bruno Mountain is Hillside, a longstanding neighborhood in the heart of Daly City. “Hillside is called ‘The Original Daly City’ because it’s where the first homes in the city were built,” says area resident Fiona Santas, a realtor at Kinetic Real Estate with 20 years of real estate experience in the Bay Area. Rows of original and colorful early 20th-century homes line Hillside’s sloped streetscapes, mirroring San Francisco’s Sunset Districts minutes north. “The neighborhood sits on the border of San Francisco, so you get the benefit of living so close to the city, and it’s also very similar,” Santas says. “But you still get to be in San Mateo County, so there’s more space, and Hillside homes tend to have really good city views.” Located next to two BART stations and bisected by the commercial hub Mission Street, Hillside also delivers urban convenience and an easy Bay Area commute. Marina-style row houses painted in pastel hues line the neighborhood’s wide, hill-sloped streetscapes. These homes rarely have front lawn spaces but often display features like large front bay windows, vinyl siding and attached garages. A few areas have larger detached houses, where Spanish Revivals and midcentury moderns are common architectural styles. Most homes were built in the 1940s and ‘50s, but a few subdivisions are sprinkled with newer constructions. “The homes in Hillside are older and tend to be closer together,” says Santas. “They are actually called ‘earthquake homes’ because they are attached to help protect them from earthquakes since Daly City does sit on the fault line.” Prices range from about $650,000 for an older two-bedroom home and up to $1.9 million for a newer, four-bedroom detached property with modern interiors. Hillside also has a popular 55-plus manufactured home community, The Franciscan, with midcentury-style manufactured homes priced from $280,000 to $450,000. The Bread Basket Bakery is a popular neighborhood institution, serving Pan de Sal bread rolls and other traditional Filipino pastries since 1977. Lost Cuates Taqueria, located in the small Market Place Shopping Center, is a highly-rated Mexican eatery with items like carne asada tacos. Along Mission Street is Prima Pizza, the go-to spot for a classic slice, while nearby Lucky Supermarket is stocked with grocery items. Just outside Hillside’s northern border, the upscale Via Mare offers a more refined take on Filipino classics, with dishes like crispy pork leg and stewed oxtail in a peanut-based sauce. The Westlake Shopping Center, a few miles west on Southgate Avenue, has many shopping options, from specialty shops to big-box stores like The Home Depot and Target. Four miles west of Hillside, the Cow Palace Arena and Events Venue is home to the Bay Area’s Grand National Rodeo, Horse & Stock Show. Taking place in October, it’s one of the largest rodeo shows in the nation. During the winter, the venue transforms into an immersive Victoria London setting for the annual Great Dickens Christmas Fair & Victorian Holiday Party. This 5-week event features costumed performers, musical concerts, local food and festive shops. The Serramonte Center, two miles south, hosts seasonal community gatherings like summer kick-off parties and Easter egg hunts. Students may attend Woodrow Wilson Elementary School, which gets a C-rating from Niche, followed by the C-plus-rated Thomas R. Pollicita Middle School. The A-minus-rated Jefferson High School offers special culinary arts and engineering academy programs. Its most famous graduate is legendary football coach and broadcaster John Madden, who led the Bay Area’s Oakland Raiders to a Super Bowl victory in 1977. Hillside Park is an open, grassy green space with tennis and basketball courts, a mini track field and play areas. Surrounded by evergreens, it has paved walking trails with views of San Bruno Mountain. Marchbank Park is at the center of Hillside, with basketball courts, playgrounds and a plaza. Just east is San Bruno Mountain State and Country Park. This 2,416-acre park has extensive biking, hiking and horseback riding trails within its rugged landscape, which is known for its golden poppies in the spring. The park’s summit provides 360-degree views of the bay and city skyline. Trading mountain scenes for a seaside landscape is Thorton State Beach, just a few miles west, providing sandy beach trails along the Pacific coastline. Although Mission Street has a direct route into San Francisco to the north and Colma to the south, Interstate 280 is the largest nearby highway option, located a few miles west. Both the Daly City and Colma BART Stations are less than a few miles away for traveling by light rail around the Bay Area. Multiple public bus stops reside along Mission Street, and the San Francisco International Airport is about nine miles south.