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.
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.
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.
Read More

Updates and Events

49 - 560 Mission Street 1 in SF

Paving the Way to Downtown Revitalization: Three Cities San Francisco Can Learn From

News /
San Francisco鈥檚 office vacancy rate, one of the highest in the country, has dampened the city鈥檚 liveliness and economic prospects. Other cities are tackling the resilience challenges that office-centric downtowns face by reconsidering office building uses and creating incentives for redevelopment. San Francisco can take a page from their revitalization plans.
roosevelt park and community center in san jose

Investing in San Jos茅's Parks and Open Spaces Creates a Virtuous Cycle

News /
San Jos茅鈥檚 parks and open spaces are underfunded and falling into disuse. Realizing their potentially large economic and social dividends will take significant and sustainable funding mechanisms. Now more than ever, the city must study, assess, and develop long-term funding strategies with clear communication, intentionality, and creativity.

Housing Advocates to State: Transit-Oriented Communities Don't Work Without Transit

Advocacy Letter /
黑料传送门and other housing advocates request the state take action to protect public transit, which provides an essential mobility option for residents of infill housing developments across California. Left unaddressed, transit's fiscal cliff will harm the state's most vulnerable residents and undermine the production of infill housing.

黑料传送门Sponsors Bill to Increase Shared Parking (AB 894 - Friedman)

Advocacy Letter /
黑料传送门is sponsoring a bill to require that agencies allow land owners and managers to share underutilized parking and to count such shared parking toward meeting parking requirements. The bill would also require new developments and parking lots funded by public agencies to evaluate shared parking options. If passed, this bill will reduce a common circumstance of costly parking being required in situations where other parking is available nearby.

黑料传送门Unites with San Francisco Business and Civic Groups in Rebuilding Downtown

Advocacy Letter /
黑料传送门along with other San Francisco business and civic groups have come together with a shared goal to renew the economic core and deliver real change. We are encouraged by the Mayor's Roadmap to Recovery, and look forward to working in partnership to create livable, programmable, and resilient Downtown neighborhoods.
San Jose city hall arial view

Op-Ed: How San Jos茅鈥檚 Elected Leaders Can Plan for Success

News /
The success of San Jos茅 and the well-being of its residents depend on a fully-staffed and functioning planning department that guides how and where San Jos茅's community grows and evolves and expedites projects that conform to the City Council-adopted vision. This is how good government works and must be a top priority for our elected leaders.
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