The International Settlement was off of Broadway part in North Beach and Part in the Financial area. It had French, Italian and Spanish people living there. During prohibition there were speak easys. It was known for its cheap hotels where rooms were 25 cents a day. They had a name for those kinds of hotels but my source can't remember what they were called. And yes there was an arch across the street. I remember the arch. Not sure if it was Hotaling alley or Honkley alley. Jeanine