multifamily housing in downtown Oakland

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

Bay Area Bike Sharing Moves Closer to Reality

News /
After a number of delays, the wheels are finally turning on a bike-sharing program for the Bay Area. Earlier this month, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) signed a contract with Alta Bike Share, which runs successful programs in Washington, D.C., and Boston.

Future-Proof Water

SPUR Report /
More than two-thirds of the Bay Area’s water is imported from outside the region. Today these supplies are regularly threatened by drought, earthquakes and water quality impairments — risks that will intensify with climate change. Meanwhile, our region will add 2 million more people by 2040 — growth that will require more water. Do we have the water we need to support this projected growth?

SPUR Supports Amendment to San Francisco’s CEQA Procedures

Advocacy Letter /
SPUR supports the proposed amendment to CEQA procedures. The legislation, spearheaded by Supervisor Wiener, outlines three key changes that collectively take a small step towards creating a clearer and more streamlined CEQA process for San Franciscans.

SPUR Supports the Mandatory Seismic Retrofit Program

Advocacy Letter /
Currently, soft-story buildings pose a significant threat to San Francisco’s ability to recover from a disaster. The Community Action Plan for Seismic Safety estimates that at least 58,000 residents and 7,000 workers occupy buildings vulnerable to damage in an earthquake. SPUR urges the Board of Supervisors to move forward with the Mandatory Seismic Retrofit Program.

Making Better Places: Urban Design Lessons Along the Peninsula

News /
How do we create the kinds of compact, walkable environments that can have a real impact on car use and carbon emissions? SPUR San Jose’s Urban Design Task Force is working to foster well-designed new development that will support the city’s 2040 General Plan goals of a more walkable, livable and transit-friendly built environment.