Exploring San Francisco through the lens of city blocks, Blocker is a weekly series by Charles Hodgkins. Look for it on SFist each Wednesday, around the lunching hour.

Blocker No. 8: Sturgeon St. on Treasure Island

We’re standing on a giant slab of landfill in the middle of San Francisco Bay. Every residence in sight is a boxy triplex, and most of the cars appear to be about 15 years past their prime. Come to think of it, the block itself appears to be about 15 years past its prime.

If it weren’t for the bay breezes and gulls aplenty, we could be cajoled into thinking we’re poking around the crusty outskirts of Stockton. But no, we’re much closer to home than that. We’re visiting San Francisco’s most marginalized subculture: Treasure Island.