ϴPlanning Policy Area

Planning

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

Our Goals

• Leverage growth to create great neighborhoods and public spaces.

• Protect and expand open space.

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

• Grow up, not out.

Photo of a locally owned bakery storefront in downtown San Francisco

Policy Brief

Small and Mighty

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

ϴReport

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. ϴexplores 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?

ϴasked community leaders: “What would it look like if cities were to get downtown right?” We invited them to picture a future in which today’s 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 José’s 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

ϴSponsors Bill to Increase Shared Parking (AB 894 - Friedman)

Advocacy Letter
ϴis 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.

ϴUnites with San Francisco Business and Civic Groups in Rebuilding Downtown

Advocacy Letter
ϴalong 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 José’s Elected Leaders Can Plan for Success

News /
The success of San José and the well-being of its residents depend on a fully-staffed and functioning planning department that guides how and where San José'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.
rendering of howard terminal ballpark

What It Will Take to Make the Howard Terminal Ballpark Project a Home Run for Oakland

News /
The Howard Terminal Ballpark Project represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity for the City of Oakland. In addition to keeping the A’s from moving, it could help the city realize benefits ranging from well-paying jobs and affordable housing to infrastructure and environmental improvements. But if not well-managed, the project could displace residents in adjacent West Oakland and Chinatown and create congestion, safety risks, and potential disruptions for the Port of Oakland. ϴis advocating for ways to ensure the project reaches its potential.
people biking on a trail at guadalupe river park in san jose

Why San José Should Make Guadalupe River Park a Focal Point of Its Downtown Economic Development

News /
Well-designed, well-maintained, and well-programmed parks and open spaces are important components of cities’ equitable economic development strategies thanks to their social, environmental, and community-building benefits. Revitalizing Guadalupe River Park and Gardens could help San José achieve its goals as it pursues economic development downtown. Along with ϴresearch, responses to a ϴsurvey in an online exhibition suggest how stakeholders can positively re-shape the spatial dynamic between community and ecology as well as center equity and inclusion in the park’s reactivation.

ϴProvides Comments to the Oakland A's on the Howard Terminal Ballpark Project

Advocacy Letter
ϴsent a letter to the Oakland A's regarding the current status of the Howard Terminal ballpark project. Overall, ϴbelieves that the project is an exciting opportunity for Oakland and an appropriate use of the Howard Terminal site. However, there are several pieces of the project where ϴhas concerns or questions, which are detailed in the letter.
Get Our Newsletters