NNN Brokers USA – San Francisco Commercial Real Estate Brokers: "The Scoop"

What’s worse, pray tell: awkward family photos or really awkward family photos with equally awkward home decor in the background? That’s exactly the metaphysical question our sister site Curbed National ponders today, offering a full photogallery of interiors-heavy shots culled from the popular Christmas-cards-gone-wrong blog AwkwardFamilyPhotos.com. [Curbed National]

The majority of Masonic area residents favor a boulevard street design for Masonic Avenue between Oak and Geary streets, according to the SFMTA. The plan is expected to make Masonic Avenue safer and up the curb appeal. “Implementation of the Boulevard design awaits a final report due by the end of the year, followed by an approval process and a search for funding.” [BIKE NOPA]

The People’s Guide is Curbed SF’s tour o’ the nabes, lead by our most loyal readers, favorite bloggers, and other luminaries of our choosing. Have a piece to say? We’ll be happy to hand over the megaphone. This week, we welcome Eve Batey; Editor and Publisher of the SF Appeal[The Outer Sunset, perfect for playing Omega Man!]

Nabe: The Outer Sunset

Tell us something we don’t know about the Outer Sunset? It’s not as foggy as everyone thinks.

Local Customs of note: Surfers taking their wetsuits off in their entryways never gets old.

Hidden Gems in the Outer Sunset: For 25 bucks a month, you can rent 3 DVDs at a time, as many as you want, at Top Video World on Judah and 46th (there’s another location on Judah and 9th). Anything they don’t have, they’ll order for you, and they get stuff before it’s on Netflix. It’s total instant gratification, and a family business, so it’s the perfect combination of consumption and shop local self-righteousness.

Are your neighbors “Rotten Neighbor” worthy? If so, dish. If not … well, why not? People seem to “store” their cars out here. Then, as their batteries weaken from not being driven, their car alarms start going off*. For hours.

Inflate the bubble or burst it: What’s not-so-swell about your “perfect” neighborhood? If your nabe is an underdog, what’s being overlooked? I’m incapable of accurately assessing where my nabe stands in the bubble, so I’ll give you both: Having to rely on just one transit line, the N Judah, can be very frustrating. If you have any sort of social life, you end up spending way too much on cabs (or parking if you opt to drive). Sometimes I feel really isolated, like no one will come visit me (sob! sniff! This is my public cry for help!) or like it’s just too much of a hassle to go out. BUT: I have everything (but my friends) I need here — a good co-op grocery/general store, great restaurants and coffee, cheap rent, and the beautiful Pacific Ocean. So, see, guys, you should come out to see me!

The final word on the (your neighborhood): It always surprises me when people get weird about the west side of SF, call it the suburbs (in a snide way) or say, as a terming-out Board of Supes member once did to MY FACE that “no one lives out there.” Because, what? What did the west side of SF do to make you so…anxious? It reminds me of people who get suuuuper squirmy around gay folks. I love it out here, but we’re certainly not trying to recruit you. But if you joined us, the Outer Sunset would welcome you, regardless of who you are, with open arms. You cannot say that about every nabe in SF!

*This is the explanation a local mechanic gave me on why this happens, I am not a car battery or alarm expert and have not fact checked this cause and effect for accuracy!

Click the image above to view the full photogallery.

This 5-bed, 3.5-bath, 5,532 square foot mini mansion was built in 1914 by San Francisco architect Albert Farr. Thankfully all of the past owners have maintained its dignity by not ripping out what makes it special: mahogany wood finishes, beveled glass french doors and the like. The basement has an au pair unit, along with a wine cellar and workshop. The fancy smancy is all on the first floor, though. With its grand foyer and double parlor. We never thought we’d type this, but the unfinished attic sure looks fun. Maybe it’s the bar. Or the pingpong table. Or both. Asking price? $2,495,000.

· 1651 8th Ave [Redfin]

[Lower Nob Hill via Curbed Flickr Pool/tyler82]

· Get yourself a Giants World Champs zine [Hamburger Eyeland]
· SF not acting on promised improvements to pedestrian safety [SF Streetsblog]
· We’re going to experience some more crazy weather [NBC Bay Area]
· San Francisco is not a city that rocks [Mission Mission]
· Reindeer arrive at SF Zoo [SFist]
· Christmas is coming! Get someone a porno pillow [Curbed National]
· Burrito Justice continues to blow our minds [Burrito Justice]

Over the weekend CQ Press released the results of a study of the most dangerous cities in the U.S. The study was based on FBI crime statistics. The number one spot went to St. Louis, MO. Oakland made it into the top 5 at #5, and Richmond was right after at #6. And where was SF on the list? #130. [Gawker]

[Untitled via Curbed Flickr Pool/Justin Beck]

· Quick! There’s still time to make someone uncomfortable [FunCheapSF]
· Community responds to historic mural desecration [Mission Local]
· Muni in black and white [Muni Diaries]
· Housing market declines [WSJ]
· Gardening in the Outer Sunset [Ocean Beach Bulletin]

Click the image above to view the full photogallery.

If you’ve had some bad experiences with your neighbors, you might like this little 2-bed, 1-bath, 756 square foot cottage in Bernal Heights, which makes it in to the under $500k club with a list price of $489,000. The privacy fences all around mean you’ll be safe from the prying eyes of passersby, but it’s not like they would be able to see much through the tiny windows placed high on the walls anyway. As a last result, hermits can also draw the unnecessarily long floor-to-ceiling drapes in the bedroom, which conveniently match the similar numbers that make up for a lack of a closet door.

Luckily, if you need to get some natural light, there’s plenty of outdoor space, although not all of it is pretty – like the nice waste of space out front where the current residents have devoted as much square footage to trash and recycling bins as they have to potted plants. Out back however, things are a little livelier with a pleasant and “mature” garden of orange and ficus trees as well as some lilac and rosemary bushes. Which, along with new granite countertops and kitchen fixtures, would be a great selling point for aspiring chefs out there – if only the kitchen weren’t actually such a let down with zero prep space and a dearth of cabinetry. And as long as that clunky sectional sofa is crammed nearly wall-to-wall in the awkward combination living room/dining room, you’ll probably be hoping for plenty of sunny San Francisco days to make use of that outdoor living room in back.
·505 Anderson St [Redfin]

There’s a new plan for hosting the America’s Cup which could end up costing the city nothing when all is said and done. The main changes are to which piers would be utilized and therefore need demolition and construction costs. All signs point to the cheaper plan actually being better for spectators, so what’s the problem? [SF Gate]

Mobsters! Who doesn’t love mobsters? And particularly their better halves. In honor of Mob Wives, a new VH1 reality TV show that’s due to premiere after Thanksgiving, our cousins over at Curbed National have compiled an awfully colorful array of photos depicting completely and utterly mobbed-out bedrooms. Gilding, baroque detailing, velvet, and all. [Curbed National]