State Supreme Court Gives Boost to Affordable Housing
By Kristy Wang, Community Planning Policy DirectorLast week, the California Supreme Court released a key ruling that allows cities to require new market-rate housing developments to include homes that are affordable to people with low or moderate incomes. The case that came to the court’s attention was focused on a 2010 City of San Jose ordinance, but the ruling has broader implications for cities across the state.
Why a Housing Moratorium Won’t Bring Rents Down — and What to Do Instead
By Kristy Wang, Community Planning Policy DirectorThe displacement occurring in the Mission District and elsewhere in San Francisco is indisputably tragic. But we should not be fooled into believing that passing moratoriums on new development is going to solve the city’s affordability crisis. This simply makes housing less available — and makes it likely that more people will be displaced. Here's what we should do instead.
A Cleaner Future for the Bay Area’s Energy (and Air)
By Laura Tam, Sustainable Development Policy DirectorIn the field of climate change policy, you might think the State of California —arguably home of the world’s most robust policies to reduce greenhouse gases — has got everything covered. And, you’re mostly right. But there’s much more we can do. A new report highlights three ways we can significantly clean up our air by making cleaner energy choices.
An Up Market Brings Housing, but Not Jobs, to Downtown San Jose
By Egon Terplan and Laura Tolkoff2014 was the hottest recent year for real estate in downtown San Jose. Hundreds of residential units broke ground in new apartment towers, with several thousand more approved. While high-density housing in the transit-rich downtown is great, the city also needs to keep in mind the long-term availability of land for jobs — specifically sites that can accommodate large office buildings near future BART stations.
Could Mountain View’s Endorsement Jumpstart Silicon Valley BRT?
By Dylan PilaarSilicon Valley’s El Camino Real caters almost exclusively to private automobiles, but a recent decision from the Mountain View City Council may shift the boulevard’s car-first status quo. Last week, city leaders voted 3-2 in support of dedicated lanes for the El Camino Real Bus Rapid Transit project.
Why Do Transit Systems So Often Ignore Design?
By Dylan PilaarGreat design can transform and enhance any user experience. Why, then, is thoughtful design often ignored within our transit systems? SPUR recently held a day of workshops and presentations, sponsored by TransitCenter, to explore the future of design and public transportation.
Muni’s New Map Takes a Step Toward Seamless Transit
By Allison Arieff, SPUR Editorial DirectorThis month, San Francisco will introduce a new transit map designed to give riders more information at a glance. First exhibited at SPUR in 2014 as part of our exhibition Urban Cartography , the new Muni map makes the complex web of San Francisco’s 82 municipal transit lines far easier to use and understand.
Healthy Food Incentive Programs Get a Big Boost from Uncle Sam
By Eli Zigas, Food and Agriculture Policy DirectorThe U.S. Department of Agriculture just gave a big shot in the arm to healthy food incentive programs. On April 1, the agency announced $31 million in grants to groups large and small — including three recipients in California — that provide matching dollars to low-income families who use their food assistance benefits to buy fruits and vegetables.
The Long-Awaited Transformation of SF’s Southeast Waterfront
By Jennifer Warburg and Benjamin GrantThe Blue Greenway project proposes a 13-mile continuous open space and waterway network along San Francisco's southeastern waterfront. The idea has enormous support, but it has yet to overcome some hurdles, namely a geography that encompasses dozens of sites with dozens of owners. To address these complications, SPUR, the San Francisco Parks Alliance and others partners have kicked off the Blue Greenway Action Plan.
Bay Area Vs. Drought: How Are We Doing?
By Laura Tam, Sustainable Development Policy DirectorHeadlines are sounding the alarm that California might have only one year of water left. How are water suppliers in the Bay Area responding to our state’s worsening drought? This week SPUR invited a few of the region’s principal water managers to share the outlook from their parts of the Bay Area.