黑料传送门Planning Policy Area

Planning

We believe: Growth can be good and should be directed to areas
that will support equitable development and sustainability.

Our Goals

鈥 Leverage growth to create great neighborhoods and public spaces.

鈥 Protect and expand open space.

鈥 Concentrate new jobs and housing in downtowns and near major transit hubs.

鈥 Grow up, not out.

Photo of a locally owned bakery storefront in downtown San Francisco

Policy Brief

Small and Mighty

San Francisco鈥檚 small businesses face complex regulations, rising costs, and slow economic recovery after the pandemic. 黑料传送门identifies seven interventions to support the city's small business sector.
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Photo of a locally owned bakery storefront in downtown San Francisco

Policy Brief

Small and Mighty

San Francisco鈥檚 small businesses face complex regulations, rising costs, and slow economic recovery after the pandemic. 黑料传送门identifies seven interventions to support the city's small business sector.
Read More
Photo of high rise buildings in downtown San Francisco

黑料传送门Report

From Workspace to Homebase

Converting empty offices into apartments could both reanimate downtown San Francisco and provide housing for more people near transit, jobs, and culture. 黑料传送门explores the suitability of converting office buildings to housing and tests the financial feasibility.
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Photo of high rise buildings in downtown San Francisco

黑料传送门Report

From Workspace to Homebase

Converting empty offices into apartments could both reanimate downtown San Francisco and provide housing for more people near transit, jobs, and culture. 黑料传送门explores the suitability of converting office buildings to housing and tests the financial feasibility.
Read More
illustration of a mixed-used downtown with offices, restaurants, childcare, retail, greenspace and transit

Urbanist Article

What If We Get Downtown Right?

黑料传送门asked community leaders: 鈥淲hat would it look like if cities were to get downtown right?鈥 We invited them to picture a future in which today鈥檚 ideas and policy proposals for downtown revitalization are put into place ... and they work.
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illustration of a mixed-used downtown with offices, restaurants, childcare, retail, greenspace and transit

Urbanist Article

What If We Get Downtown Right?

黑料传送门asked community leaders: 鈥淲hat would it look like if cities were to get downtown right?鈥 We invited them to picture a future in which today鈥檚 ideas and policy proposals for downtown revitalization are put into place ... and they work.
Read More
photo of a pedestrian bridge and tree cover over the Guadalupe River

Virtual Exhibition

Re-Envisioning the Guadalupe River Park

The Guadalupe River Park is downtown San Jos茅鈥檚 most important urban green space, but it faces serious challenges. SPUR's virtual exhibition celebrates the promise of the river park and brings together three years of research and conversation about its future.
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photo of a pedestrian bridge and tree cover over the Guadalupe River

Virtual Exhibition

Re-Envisioning the Guadalupe River Park

The Guadalupe River Park is downtown San Jos茅鈥檚 most important urban green space, but it faces serious challenges. SPUR's virtual exhibition celebrates the promise of the river park and brings together three years of research and conversation about its future.
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Updates and Events

San pedro square in san jose

Revitalizing San Jos茅鈥檚 Downtown: Five Strategies

News /
San Jos茅鈥檚 downtown has been hit hard by the impacts of hybrid and remote work. Its office occupancy rate is the lowest among the ten largest U.S. metros, and tax revenues in the city鈥檚 Downtown Growth Area have decreased in line with the drop in commuters there. City leaders, with the support of other downtown stakeholders, can adopt five strategies to revitalize downtown as a central social district.

黑料传送门Supports the Pedestrianization of San Pedro Street

Advocacy Letter /
黑料传送门supports the pedestrianization of San Pedro Street in Downtown San Jos茅. Enabling outdoor operations along San Pedro Street as part of the Al Fresco initiative allowed for an expansion of outdoor public life in the center of the city that has become a popular destination for residents and visitors alike. However, the proposed project should set a precedent of efficiently and effectively creating a public amenity, as well as preserving the central spaces for dining and social gathering given this project鈥檚 overwhelming community support. We ask the City to enshrine this pedestrianized public space for the benefit of Downtown鈥檚 economic and public vibrancy and to do so by ambitiously making sure that thoughtful planning, great urban design, and innovative project delivery steer this public amenity forward.
overhead shot of oakland

Oakland Can Use Its Work on the Proposed Howard Terminal Ballpark to Realize Inclusive Growth

News /
The Oakland A鈥檚 decision to abandon negotiations for a new stadium at Howard Terminal is a huge disappointment to Oakland and the city鈥檚 many A鈥檚 fans. Despite this setback, Oakland remains a viable city for sports investment. And Howard Terminal remains a strong candidate for development. The experience with the A鈥檚 has laid the groundwork for future projects in Oakland that meet the city鈥檚 economic, environmental, and social standards.
downtown san francisco

What Comes Next for Downtown San Francisco?

News /
Hybrid work and a scarcity of affordable housing have depopulated San Francisco鈥檚 downtown. The consequences have been devastating to San Francisco鈥檚 budget, putting essential services and surviving small businesses at risk. How can the city create more economic diversity downtown 鈥 and address pre-COVID equity and sustainability challenges? 黑料传送门has identified four key areas on which to focus our downtown revitalization research, engagement, and advocacy.
vta in san jose

New Transit-Oriented Communities Policy Encourages Equitable and Sustainable Development

News /
The Metropolitan Transportation Commission鈥檚 Transit Oriented Communities Policy, passed in 2022, aims to simultaneously address the climate crisis, the Bay Area鈥檚 unaffordability, and racial and economic inequities. 黑料传送门reports on the policy鈥檚 main components and answers some critical questions, such as how local jurisdictions are being incentivized to comply with the policy and how residents can follow and become involved in its implementation.

黑料传送门Provides Feedback on the Zoning Incentive Program for the Downtown Oakland Specific Plan

Advocacy Letter /
黑料传送门sent a letter to Oakland鈥檚 Planning Department with comments on the Zoning Incentive Program (ZIP) for the Downtown Oakland Specific Plan (DOSP). In the letter, we recommend that the project team reconsider various aspects of the program, such as its narrative that value will be created if rents increase by over 20%, the complexity of its implementation, and its affordable housing requirements.
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