Small businesses are critical components of the social and economic vibrancy of our neighborhoods amidst the evolving landscape of commercial vacancies and retail. Join SPUR for a discussion on how local agencies and organizations are supporting and sustaining the growth of BIPOC-owned small businesses. We will explore how federal funding, city-wide initiatives in San Francisco, and local groups are providing resources and opportunities to entrepreneurs in our region.

The question of “What will happen to Downtown San Francisco?” has been at the forefront of many conversations and news stories. The pandemic brought on monumental changes to the region, resulting in significant reductions to economic drivers like tourism and office work. Nearly three years later, downtown San Francisco is showing signs of recovery. The streets are busier as tourists, workers, and big conferences return. Kastle projected that office occupancy in San Francisco was up to 42.5% in December 2022, a significant increase from numbers reported earlier in the year. How can San Francisco sustain growth in the downtown corridor? Join SPUR and our partners from the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce and Advance SF for an important conversation about how civic organizations are working toward recovery in the heart of San Francisco.

As we continue to navigate the hybrid work landscape, the progress of commercial real estate and office markets in our downtown corridors remain closely monitored. A recent report detailing Silicon Valley office figures by CBRE found that downtown San José posted a vacancy rate of 17.4% in Q4 of 2022. This number represents steady growth in vacancies during the year. What does this mean for the market in downtown San José? What types of office deals are driving rental activity? Join us for a conversation with CBRE leaders Mike Charters, Will Schmidt, and Geoff Gonzalez for an update on the downtown San José commercial real estate market and learn about pipeline projects in the heart of Silicon Valley.

The question of “What will happen to Downtown San Francisco?” has been at the forefront of many conversations and news stories. The pandemic brought on monumental changes to the region, resulting in significant reductions to economic drivers like tourism and office work. Nearly three years later, downtown San Francisco is showing signs of recovery. The streets are busier as tourists, workers, and big conferences return. Kastle projected that office occupancy in San Francisco was up to 42.5% in December 2022, a significant increase from numbers reported earlier in the year. How can San Francisco sustain growth in the downtown corridor? Join SPUR and our partners from the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce and Advance SF for an important conversation about how civic organizations are working toward recovery in the heart of San Francisco.

The COVID-19 pandemic has fundamentally shifted the way people work. With the rise of the hybrid workforce, employers are exploring how to adapt to the expectations and needs of their workers. According to a recent study by JLL , 60% of polled office workers want to work in a hybrid style while 55% are already doing so. What does this mean for physical workplaces in the short-term and long-term? Join us for a conversation at a WeWork space in downtown San Francisco spotlighting how businesses are shifting their office models and how that influences our urban centers.

The Downtown Rail Extension (DTX) project is a multi-billion dollar effort that will extend Caltrain and the future California High-Speed Rail service into the Salesforce Transit Center in San Francisco. With an estimated cost of $5 billion and led by the Transbay Joint Powers Authority, DTX aims to increase commuter rail access for more seamless mobility, ultimately connecting 11 Bay Area transit systems , and lay the groundwork for high-speed rail in the region. This increased connectivity across the region will have impacts on the future economic vitality of the Bay Area. Join us at the historic Ferry Building to learn more and discuss the project with leaders spearheading the work.

According to research from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), 70.4% of California’s nearly 162,000 homeless population were unsheltered on a single night in January 2020. Governor Newsom signed landmark legislation in 2021 to address California’s housing crisis and boost the state’s supply of residential dwellings. These policies aim to streamline development and increase housing density. How have these measures been implemented to help Californians find homes and create vibrant neighborhoods in the Golden State? Join us for a conversation with Regina Celestin Williams, Executive Director of SV@Home, and Michael Lane, SPUR’s state Policy Director, to hear an update on how the state’s housing policies will impact our region and learn about bills currently making their way through the State’s legislature.

San Francisco’s economic recovery is progressing more slowly than other urban centers across the globe. Factors like a low percentage of employees returning to the office, a 22.4% commercial vacancy rate in Q4 of 2021, and less tourism are key contributors to the slower levels of market growth. The decline in major drivers of the city’s economy has wide-reaching implications, particularly in downtown and its surrounding neighborhoods. Join us for a presentation by Ted Egan, San Francisco’s Chief Economist, and Alexander Quinn, JLL’s Director of Research for Northern California, to learn the specifics about San Francisco’s economic trends and potential solutions for current challenges. Sujata Srivastava, SPUR’s San Francisco Director, is moderating the discussion.

While California’s labor market experienced significant losses during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic , t he state has since gained back 75% of lost jobs as of November 2021 according to data from the UC Berkeley Labor Center . As the economy recovers, government leaders must continue to address employment challenges and chart a course forward toward financial stability for all Californians. Join SPUR for a conversation with the Lieutenant Governor of California, Eleni Kounalakis, to hear an update about California’s job creation and economic recovery efforts. This conversation is moderated by Nick Josefowitz, SPUR’s Chief Policy Officer.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, regional transportation agencies have pivoted strategies to keep Bay Area communities moving with the help of about $4B in federal emergency funds. How will the region’s backbone transit agencies navigate the financial shortfall when federal relief funds are drawn down? Join us for a conversation with SFMTA, Caltrain and BART to learn about how they have adapted to the current landscape and hear an update on the financial outlook in the coming year. Join SPUR for a discussion on how we keep the Bay Area moving as we begin to come back together as a city and community. Our panel features leaders transportation leaders from across the Bay Area working to ensure that each transit agency continues to serve all Bay Area residents.