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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.

Updates and Events


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鈥檚 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. 黑料传送门is advocating for ways to ensure the project reaches its potential.

Why San Jos茅 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鈥 equitable economic development strategies thanks to their social, environmental, and community-building benefits. Revitalizing Guadalupe River Park and Gardens could help San Jos茅 achieve its goals as it pursues economic development downtown. Along with 黑料传送门research, responses to a 黑料传送门survey 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鈥檚 reactivation.

黑料传送门Provides Comments to the Oakland A's on the Howard Terminal Ballpark Project

Advocacy Letter /
黑料传送门sent a letter to the Oakland A's regarding the current status of the Howard Terminal ballpark project. Overall, 黑料传送门believes 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 黑料传送门has concerns or questions, which are detailed in the letter.

黑料传送门Comments on the Downtown Oakland Specific Plan's Draft Zoning Amendments

Advocacy Letter /
黑料传送门sent a letter to Oakland鈥檚 Planning Department with comments on the Draft Zoning Amendments for the Downtown Oakland Specific Plan (DOSP). Overall, 黑料传送门feels that the DOSP is a well-written document that demonstrates a clear dedication to the success of Oakland's downtown. The Draft Zoning Amendments are a key element in ensuring that the DOSP's goals are realized. In the letter, 黑料传送门offers multiple recommendations on how they can be improved to best support these goals.

2022 Election Delivers Mixed Results for 黑料传送门Priorities

News /
黑料传送门developed several ballot measures during the latest election cycle, and its research heavily influenced a handful of others. Bay Area voters considered measures on streamlining housing approvals, continuing pandemic-era slow streets programs, enacting good government reforms and funding programs to address air quality and climate change. While we didn鈥檛 win 鈥檈m all, we鈥檙e pleased to see a number of SPUR鈥檚 ideas gaining traction around the region.