APA Lists Best North American Neighborhoods

"Two neighborhoods in California made the list. History and social character played a key role in the selection of San Francisco's North Beach."

"The history-rich, European-style neighborhood between the Financial District, Chinatown and Russian and Telegraph hills was one of two California neighborhoods included in a list of 10 great neighborhoods published this week by the American Planning Association.

The association praised the area's mom-and-pop stores and nightclubs, and the tolerance and tradition of both its developed and social environments."

"What truly makes North Beach unique are the people who live there," the association said in a statement. "If they are left behind by the market, so, too, is the character that a century of effort has kept in place."

"The Board of Supervisors was complimented by the planning association for helping to protect North Beach's "essential character," which was described as "a mix of tolerance and tradition in both its built and social environments."

"Supervisor Aaron Peskin, who represents and lives in North Beach, described the neighborhood as "ground zero for the anti-chain wars."

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Top 10 neighborhoods in alphabetical order:

* Chatham Village, Pittsburgh

* Eastern Market, Washington, D.C.

* Elmwood Village, Buffalo, N.Y.

* First Addition, Lake Oswego, Ore.

* Hillcrest, San Diego

* North Beach, San Francisco

* Old West Austin, Austin, Texas

* Park Slope, Brooklyn, N.Y.

* Pike Place Market, Seattle

* West Urbana, Urbana, Ill.

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- Source: American Planning Association