Sunnyside

Sunnyside is one of those small but mighty neighborhoods that most people still struggle to find on a map, but it’s a total sleeper hit. I sat down with Chad Nolan to talk about his move from the Central Richmond back in 2021, and he’s pretty much debunked the myth that it’s just as foggy as the coast. He estimates it’s about 50% sunnier than the Richmond, a legitimate microclimate that stays clear while the marine layer is hovering everywhere else.

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The history here is pure "Wild West," we talk about Behrend Joost, the guy who used Panama Canal money to fund the neighborhood and launched the city’s first electric railway just to get people to actually show up. There are some wild stories about the 19th-century jailhouse that used to sit where City College is now, apparently, the guards used to take the prisoners to the local bar. It was also a notorious bootlegger’s paradise during Prohibition, complete with the occasional basement still explosion.

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These days, the vibe is a lot more peaceful, making it a go-to for anyone hunting for a detached "starter home" that actually feels like a deal in the city. We touch on the local staples like the Sunnyside Conservatory and the Detroit Street steps, which are beautifully maintained. Between the high concentration of preschools and the easy access to the 280 and BART, it’s an incredibly practical place to plant your flag. If you’re looking for a vibrant, under-the-radar district, Sunnyside is definitely worth a look.