The 1989 earthquake played a key role in the redevelopment of the
City?s southern waterfront, which includes Mission Bay, South Park and
South Beach neighborhoods. Once the earthquake damaged Embarcadero
Freeway was demolished, the Embarcadero regained its million dollar
views. Condos and Canary Island palms sprouted along the refurbished
waterfront and developers couldn?t get enough of the warehouses and
other industrial buildings of Mission Bay. High-tech businesses and
workers quickly moved in, and South Park became known as Multimedia
Gulch. Maritime workers and Netniks now share the old waterfront dives
and chic new microbreweries, restaurants, and upscale clubs stretching
from China Basin to the Financial District. Along the Embarcadero,
rollerbladers, skateboarders, dog walkers, joggers, and tourists enjoy
the sunshine and a never-ending parade of huge container ships under
the Bay Bridge.
