Real estate in the Financial District of San Francisco is very sought after. The fact that "Wall Street West" is one of the most important finical centers in the United States has made this area of San Francisco an area that has received significant real estate investment. This section of San Francisco was once known as the Barbary Coast, a Gold Rush boomtown known for its lawlessness. The final clean up
of the area took place in the twenties and the area became a Produce District of San Francisco. A precursor of the weekend Farmer's Market that now provides fresh produce near the Embarcadero Center today.
This small neighborhood is bounded by Vallejo Street on the north, San Francisco Bay on the east, Market Street on the south and Kearny Street to the west. Within this little district with a mammoth financial impact is Montgomery Street, a street that is strongly connected to the history of banking in San Francisco since the days of the Gold Rush. It continues to be a street for banking with the Wells Fargo History Museum located on this historic street.
At one time Montgomery Street was at the water’s edge. The wharves that stretched out into San Francisco Bay during the Gold Rush became roads and structures. The Bay was filled with everything they could get their hands on including the remains of wrecked ships. The Financial District is the location of San Francisco’s biggest amalgamation of offices for banks, savings and loans and other important monetary organizations, including the western head office of the Federal Reserve Bank as well as the head office of Wells Fargo Bank and the Union Bank of California.
This very well maintained section of downtown San Francisco is filled with small stores, cafes, bistros, a multi-screen movie theater, hotels, office towers and parking garages. Gentrification has been taken to a new level here with the enhancement of this area as a residential neighborhood with the addition of luxury apartments and elite restaurants. The waterfront area known as The Embarcadero is on the eastern side of the Financial District offers a walk way and amazing views of the Bay and the City on the Bay.
The cost of homes in this pricey district run from $600,000 to $1,500,00
Embarcadero Center The Embarcadero Center is a huge compilation
of dwellings, stores, cinemas and towering offices that surround beautifully
landscape squares. The Embarcadero Center five blocks in the middle
of the most commercial area of San Francisco. This massive complex
consists of five office towers with three connected shopping levels
inside four of the towers.
Transamerica Pyramid The Transamerica Pyramid is probably the most distinctive landmark in San Francisco next to the Golden Gate Bridge. This modern tower was planned and constructed between 1969 and 1972. It is the highest skyscraper in San Francisco. The distinct shape of the Transamerica Pyramid is the most noticeable element of the San Francisco skyline.
Jackson Square The Jackson Square area is the location of some
of the few buildings that survived the San Francisco earthquake and
fire of 1906. The area known
as Jackson Square is bounded by Jackson Street on the north, Sansome Street on the east, Gold Street on the south and Montgomery Street on the west. This was considered the commercial center of San Francisco during the Gold Rush days. The heroism of Navy men saved this area from destruction during the earthquake. Jackson Square became a rather seedy area of the city for a period of time but the importance of the commercial section of San Francisco became important and this helped refurbish the Jackson Square area that now is home to antique shops and offices.
Wells Fargo History Museum This slice of American history deals with the stagecoach system the bank used to move people and precious metals in the early days of transportation and banking. The lower floors give visitors access to artifacts, maps, and samples of gold. The upper floor has a historic stagecoach that visitors can sit in.
