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SPUR 2007 ANNUAL REPORT
PROGRAM UPDATES:
SPUR's Top Policy Goals for 2008
This article appears in the April 2008 issue of Urbanist
SPUR Capital Campaign
The Urban Center represents the evolution of SPUR into a more public and engaging force.
The new facility — a transparent, state-of-the art, community-oriented meeting center located in the thriving Yerba Buena Cultural District — supports SPUR’s mission to promote innovative thinking in local planning and government, and to provide a way for citizens to get involved in the processes that shape our city. More than a choice, looming social, economic and environmental concerns have rendered the need for more thoughtful citizen involvement in planning and government a necessity. For over 50 years, SPUR has provided an intellectual framework for debate and discussion of the issues shaping our city; to this foundation, the Urban Center will add the power of place.
City Builders affinity groups
The Urban Center will belong to the entire community. In order to jump-start some of the new programs we will be able to undertake in this new facility, we have organized a group of ongoing societies by industry sector. To date, these affinity groups include: architects, landscape architects and planners; engineers; contractors and developers. New affinity groups just started include attorneys and financial institutions. The affinity groups represent nearly $4 million of the funds raised or pledged to date.
California Cultural and Historical Endowment
In August, we received our single largest cash grant, $1 million from State cultural facilities funds. Authorized by Proposition 40 passed by the voters of the state in 2002, SPUR joins half a dozen San Francisco institutions and hundreds of others statewide including our neighbors the San Francisco History Museum at the Old Mint and the Museum of the African Diaspora just across the street.
Kresge Challenge Grant
We also received a $800,000 challenge grant from the Kresge Foundation. In order to receive these funds, Kresge set a goal of $3,225,000 in matching funds. To date, we have matched $2,225,000. We are fast at work obtaining commitments of the final $1 million by the September deadline.
Goldman Fund Grant
One of our early gifts in 2005 was a $100,000 seed grant from the Richard and Rhoda Goldman Fund. We are delighted to announce that last month the foundation granted us an additional $650,000 in dual recognition of SPUR’s successful fundraising efforts over the last few years and the continually growing need for citizen involvement in planning and government.
California Municipal Finance Authority Bond
Last fall, $6,935,000 in bonds were issued by the State under the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982, more commonly known as TEFRA. SPUR joins dozens of other San Francisco nonprofit organizations in utilizing this financing as bridge funding while pledges are redeemed over the course of the multi-year capital campaign.
Launch of Community Campaign
The Urban Center will belong to everyone, and we hope that everyone will participate in making it a reality. As annual SPUR dues renewals are going out, members are being asked (with notable success!) to also make a contribution to the campaign. If you haven’t been asked yet, watch for a letter in April. All gifts of $1,000 or more will be permanently acknowledged in the center. Gifts of $10,000 and more will be featured on the extraordinary donor wall, which has been designed to symbolize the city — a donor wall uniquely appropriate to SPUR.
Building a worldwide network of Urban Centers
Urban Centers around the world have taken notice of SPUR, and Diane Filippi, the director of the Urban Center, was again a featured speaker at the Urban Center network in Italy. SPUR’s unique combination of private funding and moral suasion based on the quality of our work continues to distinguish us around the world. We are also participating with the Chicago Architecture Foundation on a network of Urban Centers, emphasizing best practices.
Start of construction
On February 11, 2008, workers began site preparation for the new Urban Center at 654 Mission Street. Construction is expected to last 14 months. Our expected opening date is spring of 2009 — just in time to celebrate SPUR’s 50th anniversary!
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