Upcoming Events

San Leandro’s Bayfair area presents a unique opportunity to create a transit-oriented mixed-use urban village that will be a model for sustainable development, embracing new technology and innovation. Come tour the area and hear about its future, then join us afterward for a reception. Co-presented by San Leandro Chamber of Commerce. + Thomas Liao / San Leandro Community Development Department

If building affordable housing were easy, everyone would be doing it. Those that seek to develop affordable, multi-unit buildings face a number of unique hurdles, including the critical challenge of funding. Come learn how affordable housing gets funded now and explore the opportunities and barriers to building this vital resource. + Ari Beliak / Bank of America + Julie Quinn / Housing Trust Silicon Valley + Brad Wiblin / BRIDGE Housing

The Bay Area’s economy stretches far beyond the boundaries of the traditional Bay Area. For decades, Bay Area residents have moved inland in search of more affordable housing. Industries such as warehousing, distribution and manufacturing have followed, seeking lower-cost environments. With the Bay Area in the midst of one of its greatest long-term economic booms, how is this new normal reshaping the economic geography of Northern California? + Micah Weinberg / Bay Area Council + Jeff Bellisario / Bay Area Council

Oakland’s roughly 4,000 vacant parcels contribute to blight and fail to help the city combat its housing crisis. Where are these parcels located, why are they being held off the market and what should the city do about them? Hear from the authors of a recent study that sheds light on these questions, and join a policy discussion about creating a vacant parcel tax in the city. + David Garcia / Terner Center for Housing Innovation + Hayley Raetz /...

Come learn about the future of the U.S. Census with a discussion and reception co-hosted by New America CA. Every 10 years, the federal government attempts to count every person in the country as part of its census, setting the foundation for political representation, social services and research over the next decade. However, the expected inclusion of a citizenship status question and the move to a new online portal have raised concerns that the data collected in the 2020 census...

As technology and automation continue to transform how industries work today, workers are asking what work will look like in the future. Indeed, the workplace landscape of 2050 may be vastly different than what we’re familiar with. How can we plan for the changes to come and equip the next generation with the skills necessary to equitably thrive in the future workplace? + Luther Jackson / NOVA + Jill North / City of San Jose + Egon Terplan / SPUR

SPUR’s annual Transit + Design Workshops provide a space to learn about the research and design tools that help create a great experience for transit users. Come interact with talented designers around this year’s theme — “Mind the Gaps” — and celebrate transit design successes happening around the region and around the world. Generously sponsored by TransitCenter.

An increasing number of workers are self-employed, many as gig workers who use an online platform to perform specific services. What does gig work look like in the Bay Area, and who is working in these jobs? What policy ideas (like portable benefits) could improve their working conditions? Join an all-star panel as academics, practitioners and employers discuss the current and future state of this work in the region. Co-presented by the Aspen Institute Future of Work Initiative. + Vikrum...

Each city in California is required to plan and zone for a certain amount of housing (their Regional Housing Needs Allocation, or RHNA), but for many years there was little to no way to incentivize meaningful compliance. Now that SB 35 has created consequences for cities that fail to build their allocation, it’s important for the state and its regions to reform how these targets are determined, and this year’s SB 828 is one significant step forward in this effort...

San Francisco’s planning department is currently analyzing changes in the city’s housing stock over time, trends and factors affecting housing affordability, stages of neighborhood gentrification and displacement, and policies related to community stabilization. This comprehensive understanding will inform the development and refinement of strategies to enable San Francisco to continue to be a diverse, equitable and inclusive city into the future. Join us to hear more about their findings. + Kimia Haddadan / San Francisco Planning Department + Andrea Nelson...

Grab a drink and hear from the key people who are shaping the region’s future. In this installment of SPUR’s exciting Drinks and Discourse series, we sit down with Catherine Bracy, co-founder and executive director at TechEquity Collaborative, a group that advocates for a tech-driven economy in the Bay Area that works for everyone. Come learn about her career path, the jobs of tomorrow and how tech can create opportunity. + Noah Christman / SPUR + Catherine Bracy / TechEquity Collaborative

These days, it seems like a new tech company ruffling city feathers has become a common occurrence. Are there are better ways to help the public and private sectors get along when it comes to emerging mobility? Come hear about these omnipresent issues from the frontlines. + Warren Logan / SFCTA + Danielle Harris / SFMTA + Joan Kisthardt / Marble + Vikrum Aiyer / Postmates + Danielle Dai / Oakland Department of Transportation + Carl Hansen / Bird

As part of the SPUR Regional Strategy, we are assessing the state of regionalism and regional governance on a variety of issues, including housing. Recent state efforts and the enduring housing affordability crisis have renewed the debate about how we should make decisions on housing and land use. Join us for a lively discussion about the state of regional governance around housing and what proposals, if any, should be made to change who makes these key decisions. + Kate Hartley...