Following the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake , the Embarcadero Freeway was torn down , opening up a number of blocks for development . Several other parcels , near Beale and Howard streets , were used for the East Loop Ramp of the Transbay Terminal and are not needed for the new Transit Center . In 2007 , the state of California officially agreed to transfer the state-owned parcels to the City and County of San Francisco
1989 Loma Prieta earthquake
1989 Loma Prieta earthquake
San Francisco Transbay development