In the 1980s , Chinatown merchants were opposed to the removal of the Embarcadero Freeway .
These objections were overturned after it was damaged in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake .
In the 1980s , Chinatown merchants were opposed to the removal of the Embarcadero Freeway , but these objections were overturned after it was damaged in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake .