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Look How Much San Francisco Has Changed In 3 Years

Look How Much San Francisco Has Changed In 3 Years

First, a reminder. This is what the building looked like before Twitter moved in.

Look How Much San Francisco Has Changed In 3 Years

Here's what it looks like today.

Here

The most obvious change is the number of people in the street. In this picture from three years ago, this neighborhood didn't have much foot traffic at all. It was kind of grim.

The most obvious change is the number of people in the street. In this picture from three years ago, this neighborhood didn

Today, there are people everywhere.

Today, there are people everywhere.

We must have seen a couple hundred bicyclists heading to work. This is just one shot, but the stream of bikers was almost constant this morning.

We must have seen a couple hundred bicyclists heading to work. This is just one shot, but the stream of bikers was almost constant this morning.

San Francisco is a small city, and its public transportation system is kind of broken, so biking is a great way to get around. But you didn't see anything like this on this part of Market Street three years ago.

San Francisco is a small city, and its public transportation system is kind of broken, so biking is a great way to get around. But you didn

Remember this abandoned parking garage entrance?

Remember this abandoned parking garage entrance?

Now it's an entrance to the building, which is filled with tech companies and other businesses.

Now it

The lobby is pretty plush. That weird thing on the right is a sculpture by Nick Cave. We've seen his work in a fancy VC's office down on Sand Hill Road.

The lobby is pretty plush. That weird thing on the right is a sculpture by Nick Cave. We

Let's cross the street. Three years ago, there was a bombed out vacant lot here.

Let

Not anymore! Now it's NEMA, a new luxury apartment complex.

Not anymore! Now it

It's got 754 units, a 7,000-square-foot fitness center, and 1,500-square-foot "energy solarium." Rent starts at over $3,400 for a studio apartment. Here are some street-level signs advertising the place.

Sure seems like they're catering to tech workers, doesn't it?

Sure seems like they

This is one of the views from inside the building.

This is one of the views from inside the building.

This is going to be another huge apartment complex, TrinitySF.

This is going to be another huge apartment complex, TrinitySF.

It will take up most of a full city block.

It will take up most of a full city block.

Three years ago? It was another deserted lot.

Three years ago? It was another deserted lot.

There's more to come, too. This is another mixed-use development going up a block away.

There

Twitter isn't the only tech company around, either. Here's the new headquarters for Zendesk, which went public earlier this year.

Twitter isn

The building was totally gutted and renovated, and opened right after Zendesk's IPO. It's quite beautiful.

The building was totally gutted and renovated, and opened right after Zendesk

Here's a sample of what it's like inside Zendesk

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It also casts bright lights onto the street at night, which makes the block feel more welcoming, or at least a little bit safer.

It also casts bright lights onto the street at night, which makes the block feel more welcoming, or at least a little bit safer.

This is the Warfield Theatre building. The theatre has been there forever. Jerry Garcia used to play there all the time.

This is the Warfield Theatre building. The theatre has been there forever. Jerry Garcia used to play there all the time.

But now it's been totally renovated and holds a bunch of tech startups, like Spotify and Quip, and VC firm Benchmark Capital.

But now it

Here's an example of a smaller building restored to glory.

Here

It's another luxury apartment building called The Wilson. The leasing office boasts it was "re-established" in 2014.

This deserted bank has been an eyesore for decades. It's going to be housing new businesses next year, although we don't know who's moving in yet.

This deserted bank has been an eyesore for decades. It

As tech companies bring more people into the neighborhood, the types of businesses on the street level are starting to change. Sure, there are still plenty of check-cashing places and discount stores...

As tech companies bring more people into the neighborhood, the types of businesses on the street level are starting to change. Sure, there are still plenty of check-cashing places and discount stores...

But there are also places like Littlejohn's, which makes handcrafted English toffee. It started in Los Angeles, but opened this branch a couple years ago.

But there are also places like Littlejohn

Nice restaurants.

Nice restaurants.

And fancy beer bars, like this one on the ground floor of a luxury apartment building.

And fancy beer bars, like this one on the ground floor of a luxury apartment building.

And this one, Mikkeller, which has become one of the trendiest places for tech workers to hang out after work. You can't get a seat here after 6 p.m. most nights.

And this one, Mikkeller, which has become one of the trendiest places for tech workers to hang out after work. You can

Then there's this place, which promises to teach the practice of female orgasm through meditation. Well, it's still San Francisco, after all.

Then there

The Mid-Market development area, where all these pictures were taken, was promoted heavily by San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee (left), seen here with angel investor Ron Conway, a big supporter.

The Mid-Market development area, where all these pictures were taken, was promoted heavily by San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee (left), seen here with angel investor Ron Conway, a big supporter.

Lee is up for re-election next year. The election could be seen as a referendum on the sweeping changes that the tech industry has brought to San Francisco over the last few years. The Mid Market area is perhaps the most visible example of those changes. For better or worse, it will probably be seen as Lee's main legacy.

Lee is up for re-election next year. The election could be seen as a referendum on the sweeping changes that the tech industry has brought to San Francisco over the last few years. The Mid Market area is perhaps the most visible example of those changes. For better or worse, it will probably be seen as Lee

Now, take a tour through one of the big new tech buildings in this part of town..

Now, take a tour through one of the big new tech buildings in this part of town..

This is what it's like in Zendesk >>

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