Upcoming Events

A large and growing body of research makes it clear that access to parks improves health and quality of life. Recent research sponsored by the California State Parks Foundation indicates that our 280 state parks, including many of the Bay Area’s best-loved open spaces, are a largely untapped resource to meet some of the state’s loftiest policy goals. What barriers to accessing parks currently exist and how can we ensure positive park experiences for new visitors in order to inspire a sense of ownership and familiarity? Co-presented by the California State Parks Foundation.

The much-loved City Trivia Night is back at SPUR! Six themed rounds of searing questions relating to cities, architecture, urban planning and policy make this event the ultimate showcase of urbanist talent and planning geekery. Bring your own team of six or join up with other urbanists at the event to compete for the crown and prizes.

In cities around the country, buses slog through traffic in the same lanes that are shared by cars and other vehicles. The resulting transit systems can be slow, unreliable and, most of all, inefficient. The obvious idea, then, is to give buses their own lane. But what happens when cities do that? Join us to talk about the strategies, plans and challenges faced by transit-only lanes in Oakland.

Popular culture often shows Silicon Valley as a mecca for young adults, but the region is also home to a considerable proportion of older adults, especially those on the cusp of retiring. Colloquially known as the “silver tsunami,” this wave of new retirees may have massive effects on the economy and land use of the South Bay. But will this population even remain in the Bay Area? If they leave, how will the housing market be impacted by their vacated homes? What ramifications will this shift have on the health care industry? Come explore these questions and more. Co-presented by AARP and Kaiser Permanente.

The Bay Area's regional agencies recently launched their process to determine where future housing should be accommodated across the region. Due to recent changes in state law, Southern California's own regional agency had to plan for three times more housing than it had to include in its last planning cycle. Here in the Bay Area, we're likely to face a similar challenge in the coming year. Join us to hear more about Southern California's experience and how some local experts are approaching the process. Co-presented by Non-Profit Housing Association of Northern California and California YIMBY.

Planning commissions across the country advise elected officials and municipal departments on the appropriate growth and development of their cities. But complaints about these bodies and the processes that they undertake can be extensive — from regularly scheduled hearings that are all but inaccessible to the public due to location and timing, to politically appointed commissioners not accurately representing the city whose growth they oversee. How could the planning commission process be improved? Join us for a series of rapid-fire presentations about the tweaks, evolutions and transformations that planning commissions could undertake to better suit the needs of today’s cities and their residents. Co-presented by YIMBY Action and the San Francisco Housing Action Coalition.

Senate Bill 50 — the major legislative effort that would eliminate restrictive zoning along major transit lines and job centers, thus paving the way for denser, more transit-friendly housing development across the state — became stymied in Sacramento before a vote could occur. But with the concerns surrounding California’s housing crisis as pertinent as ever, the bill is returning to the state legislature in 2020 with new life. Join us to hear more about the bill’s difficult path and get an update on its current status.

Old Oakland was once of the heart of downtown Oakland, but over time the district lost its prominence as shops and businesses moved north of 14th Street. Over the past decade, however, the neighborhood has experienced a resurgence — shops and restaurants have moved back to the neighborhood, historic buildings have been repurposed and new housing has been built. What might the next decade hold for this notable district? Join us for an interactive, three-hour workshop as we explore the future of Old Oakland. Co-presented by AIA East Bay.

The California High-Speed Rail Authority is required to prepare, publish, adopt and submit a business plan to the state legislature every two years. These plans provide updates and outlines for California’s eagerly anticipated new rail project, including milestones, forecasts and funding sources. Come learn about the 2020 updated business plan and the progress that’s been made since 2018 toward achieving the vision of fast rail service throughout California.

Though at first glance the connection between environmental psychology and urban planning may not be apparent, a deeper look into their relationship shows vast overlaps. Both are interdisciplinary fields that rely on a mélange of sciences in an attempt to solve the problems that exist in the environments around us. Join two experts in these fields, the authors of the books The Shaping of Us and The Help-Yourself City, as they discuss the nature of space and place and how looking at our cities with this dual lens can enable us to better understand our interactions with the built environment and our neighbors who live within it.

Small farms provide the lifeblood of much of our region’s food system, providing amazing produce, meat and dairy to wholesale buyers, restaurants, farmers’ markets and community-supported agriculture boxes. But these farms, some of which are mere acres in size, are threatened by encroaching development, especially in Santa Clara County. A new report by the Santa Clara County Food System Alliance, Small Farms, Big Potential, offers an in-depth look at small-scale agriculture viability in the South Bay. Come hear more about their findings and what you can do in support.