Neighborhood in Santa Rosa · Sonoma County
West End
West End combines older cottages and bungalows near downtown Santa Rosa with DeMeo Park and DeTurk Round Barn Park.
Older homes, two neighborhood parks and nearby Railroad Square rail access.
About West End
West End combines older cottages and bungalows near downtown Santa Rosa with DeMeo Park and DeTurk Round Barn Park. Railroad Square and the Downtown SMART station are nearby. Part of the neighborhood is a designated preservation district, where exterior home projects can require historic review.
Homes and the preservation district
The City describes West End’s housing as small bungalows and Queen Anne cottages dating from the 1880s through the 1940s. These residential blocks sit alongside older commercial and industrial buildings. Railroad Square forms a nearby concentration of restaurants and shops around the depot.
Only part of West End became a designated preservation district in 1996. The neighborhood name and a property’s historic designation are different pieces of information; the City’s district map is the relevant starting point for a particular home.
Renovating a home in the district
For buyers planning work, Santa Rosa’s historic-review process can affect exterior projects such as replacement windows and doors, additions, fences and landscaping changes. Many changes to landmarks or properties within preservation districts require a Landmark Alteration Permit, with the review level depending on the project.
The City lists exemptions and links its permit procedures from the preservation page. Interior work does not require that historic alteration permit, although building permits may still apply. Planning staff can establish how a proposed project fits those rules before construction plans are finalized.
Parks for play and dog outings
DeMeo Park, at 610 Polk Street, has a playground, basketball and bocce courts, picnic tables and barbecue facilities. Events in neighborhood parks require a City park permit. DeTurk Round Barn Park, at 819 Donahue Street, has a separate fenced dog area with lawn and water. City rules exclude children under ten from the fenced dog enclosure, which makes it a different outing from DeMeo’s playground.
Railroad Square station and bus connections
The nearby Santa Rosa Downtown SMART station is at 7 Fourth Street in Railroad Square. It has bicycle racks and lockers, but no dedicated park-and-ride lot; SMART directs drivers to paid public parking nearby. The Transit Mall lies less than a quarter-mile east of the station and connects CityBus, Sonoma County Transit, Golden Gate Transit and Mendocino Transit services. Reaching a bus there involves leaving the rail station and continuing into downtown.
Neighborhoods and districts near West End
The closest neighborhoods and districts in Santa Rosa, measured center to center.
- Under 1 miOlive ParkOlive Park is a residential neighborhood west of US 101 and north of Highway 12, with older houses, rear garages and a public park sharing its name.
- Under 1 miSt. Rose NeighborhoodLincoln Street’s bungalows sit within a residential neighborhood beside downtown Santa Rosa that also includes larger historic homes, duplexes and small apartment buildings.
- Under 1 miRidgway Historic DistrictRidgway’s older homes lie between College and Ridgway Avenues, west of Mendocino Avenue.
- Under 1 miCherry St Historic DistrictCherry Street’s historic homes sit just north of downtown Santa Rosa, with larger Victorian houses, smaller bungalows and rear garages reached by narrow driveways.
1.0 miBurbank Gardens Historic DistrictBurbank Gardens is a residential district south of downtown Santa Rosa, with small bungalows, cottages and some duplexes and apartments.- 1.4 miMcDonald Historic DistrictMcDonald Avenue’s large Victorian homes are part of a wider Santa Rosa district that also includes smaller bungalows, duplexes and small apartment buildings.
Sources & data notesReferences, reporting periods, and how to use this information
Information on this page is compiled from multiple sources and provided for general information. It may be incomplete or out of date, and we do not guarantee its accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. Independently verify important details with the original source, relevant authority, or a qualified professional before making decisions.
Statistics keep their reporting periods. Survey estimates are not current asking prices or quotes for an individual property. Displayed values are rounded.
- Homes and the preservation districtCity of Santa Rosa — West End historic walking tourSource checked Used for housing character, the distinction between neighborhood and preservation district, and the two neighborhood parks. Historical business names are not treated as current openings.
- Renovating a home in the districtCity of Santa Rosa — historic preservation and home alterationsSource checked Current municipal overview read October 25, 2026. Review depends on the property and project; exemptions and permit levels are linked by the City. No parcel-specific permit determination is made.
- Parks for play and dog outingsCity of Santa Rosa — DeMeo Park facilitiesSource checked Municipal facility listing supplies address, recreation features and neighborhood-park event-permit rule.
- Parks for play and dog outingsCity of Santa Rosa — dog parks and rulesSource checked DeTurk listing and fenced-area rules, including the restriction on children under ten; the dog enclosure is not the whole park.
- Railroad Square station and bus connectionsSMART — Santa Rosa Downtown stationSource checked Station address, nearby Transit Mall, bicycle facilities and absence of a dedicated park-and-ride lot. No timetable, fare, travel-time or parking-price claim.