One of my daughters has worked at Genentech for many years. It's a complex spanning many blocks with 40 to 50 buildings and growing. The old steel plant is now home to new luxury hotels, with more being built. The entire bay shoreline has been redeveloped with walking trails, fishing spots and picnic areas. Completely different than the old slaughterhouse days.
What you refer to as the higher crime zone downtown, is still relatively crime free compared to other towns in the Bay Area. The downtown has been gentrified with upscale restaurants and is nice, mostly due to business from the biotech companies (which give large donations annually to local schools and organizations here). A huge construction project is underway to build a new railroad station and more hotels. South SF is rapidly changing for the better. Except for the traffic, like you say. A lot of people don't realize it's in San Mateo County, separated from SF by several other towns.
Definitely different from san fransicko! And improving (except for the traffic which city hall seems not to care about — approving more and more high density projects with zero road improvements — but the people are very upset about the dense developments and resulting traffic. Awhile back I had a check made on your planning department. It had approved 1156 new residential units of which 1152 were high density or apartment type projects and only very 4 — right on top of the San Andreas earthquake fault — were homes. The planners also approved several million square feet of additional industrial or corporate protects. And not a single road widening Get ready for every more gridlock trying to get to those 3 new little restaurants.and forget about parking there. Otherwise, -a very nice town IMHO. And definitely not San Francisco.
My first job out of school was at Genentech. They have an awesome buffet. Back in the day they had Friday beer parties.
When their new drug got approved they brought in Stevie Wonder and M.C. Hammer to perform, no lie.
My cousin’s wife is still there and is a high up big wig. She be super smart.
His first wife was employee #8, or something.