SPUR's Guide to California Housing Laws

A comprehensive analysis for planners, housing advocates, project sponsors, and community stakeholders

People walking in San Jose's San Pedro Square

The SPUR Annual Report

Learn about our impact

new multifamily housing under construction

Permitting Progress

How charter reform can help San Francisco speed delivery of housing, transit, new businesses, and more

Photo of Muni bus driving down Geary in SF

Taking Muni's Vitals

Data show the agency performs well compared with peers across the country

Illustration of a crane stacking cargo containers that say "sound fiscal policy," "structural change" and "economic growth"

Balancing Oakland's Budget

Closing the city’s structural deficit to move toward fiscal solvency and economic growth

photo of San Francisco with orange skies from wildfire smoke in September 2020

Shared Risk, Shared Resilience

New governance structures for community wildfire resilience

Building storefronts in downtown San Jose

Getting In on the Ground Floor

Activation strategies for downtown San José

Why We Need the Central Subway in North Beach and Beyond

News / May 28, 2014

The Central Subway extension of the T-Third light rail to Chinatown doesn’t include a plan for future service to North Beach or the neighborhoods beyond. A community-led movement is ensuring the proper evaluation of the light rail extension. Residential, commercial, transit and tourist hubs are heavily concentrated on the eastern side of the city, yet not enough fast and reliable transit connections exist between them.

What’s Happening With California’s High-Speed Rail System

News / May 20, 2014

California's high-speed rail project, which will connect Los Angeles to San Francisco in under three hours, is making progress on numerous fronts. There are updates surrounding the project's construction, routes, funding, lawsuits and new business plan.

San Francisco’s Healthy Corner Store Movement

Urbanist Article / May 7, 2014

Alarming health statistics led community groups and city agencies to work together to improve nutrition and a healthier food retail environment in the Bayview-Hunters Point neighborhood. Their model for corner store conversions shows promise as a community-driven strategy to improve access to healthy food.

Between the Farm and the Grocery Store

Urbanist Article / May 7, 2014

San Francisco’s food and beverage manufacturers and distributors provide a critical link between agricultural producers and consumers in the local food economy. They also support economic and employment diversity within the city. Recognizing the importance of the food industry cluster, city agencies and industry leaders are developing recommendations for how local government can better help these businesses start, stay and grow in the city.

Show Us the Money: How Will Cap and Trade Revenues Be Spent?

News / May 6, 2014

Between 2013 and 2020, California will earn between $12 billion and $45 billion in cap-and-trade revenue. The state has already received hundreds of millions of dollars from auction revenues over the last 18 months, with that number poised to be in the billions annually within a few years. Now the state needs to decide: How will the money be spent?