Tech’s Bust Delivers Bruising Blow to Hollowed-Out San Francisco

San Francisco’s Salesforce Tower opened almost five years ago as a monument to the region’s tech-driven economy, piercing the skyline as the tallest office building on the US West Coast. It symbolized a boom for the city’s downtown, alongside a new futuristic transit center and an elevated park spanning nearly four blocks.

On a recent afternoon, just a smattering of people walked the park’s trail, some of them tech workers wearing badges and company-branded clothing. Nearby restaurants were open, but without the lines that once snaked out the door.

It’s no wonder. These days, the signature 61-story tower is partially empty. ...