Another Fun Filled Fact ‘bout San Francisco: SOMA

From the SFHotelstories History File: Neighborhoods

SOMA is not only the population-controlling drug from Aldus Huxley's Brave New World, but is San Francisco's highly sought after destination neighborhood.  Like West Hollywood (WEHO) in Los Angels, SOMA stands for SOuth MArket, as in south-of-Market Street.

Ever wonder why First Street is five blocks from the waterfront, and not next to it?  Until the 1870s, Much of SOMA's streets were underwater as most of the neighborhood was filled in years later.  

The area was once known as "South of the Slot."  The slot being the space between the cable car track along the city's main thoroughfare, Market Street.  If you lived "South of the Slot," you lived on the wrong side of the tracks.

Local author Jack London, whose books we all had to read in high school, was born at Third and Brannan Streets, south of the slot. His original home is long gone, but the site is commemorated on a plaque with his namesake.

Because of the Tech Boom in only the last fifteen years (and at only .635 square miles),  SOMA is home to eight of San Francisco's 16 tallest skyscrapers.

Have you ever seen luxury apartments advertised as "Lofts" or “Live/Work" spaces?   That term and concept was invented in SOMA.