Most of the buildings are taped off due to the Loma Prieta earthquake on October 17, 1989. One building subsequently suffered a fire. See slides 05-32 for more photos of damage. See slide 33-36 of the empty lots or new buildings. This same block on South Van Ness Avenue sustained significant earthquake damage in 1906. Since it was beyond the fire line, that block was photographed repeatedly; see slides SFF-Mi-07 through 09. In 1989, there are one story buildings that were not seriously damaged but on the next block, Shotwell Street, they were seriously damaged. See earlier slides for views prior to the earthquake.
