Publication Type
Topic
Geography
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Urban Field Notes: City as Canvas

Urbanist Article /
On the streets of downtown San Jose, even the most ordinary surface can become a work of art. The Art Box Project collaborates with community and local artists to transform city utility boxes.

Shaping Downtown San Jose

Urbanist Article /
Facing competition from nearby hubs scattered throughout Silicon Valley, downtown San Jose was one of the country’s largest — and longest running — revitalization projects. Reining in the suburban sprawl and refocusing energy downtown is the impetus for the city’s next chapter.

Three State Bills Worth Watching: Urban Ag, Farm Protection and a Soda Tax

News /
Of the many food and agriculture bills California legislators have introduced this year, three stand out for their potential impact on the Bay Area’s food system: a tax incentive to promote the use of private land for urban agriculture; a change to CEQA to require agricultural land preservation for certain projects; and a statewide sugary-beverage tax. Here’s a closer look at these bills, which we…

Ocean Beach Implementation Studies: Coastal Management Framework

News /
The Coastal Management Framework (CMF) is a new project that sets the stage for implementation of the Ocean Beach Master Plan’s (OBMP) approach to coastal management through the year 2050 in the context of severe erosion and climate-induced sea level rise. The OBMP presents a series of recommendations designed to improve and restore conditions at Ocean Beach- including managed retreat, beach nourishment, and innovative approaches…

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.

Good Government Awards: How Jaime Flores-Lovo Modernized SF Public Works

News /
Jaime Flores-Lovo was honored at SPUR's 33rd annual Good Government Awards for his vision and leadership in the development of enterprise-level technology projects for the Department of Public Works, most significantly in the system migration for the department’s contract automation.

Good Government Awards: How Lea Militello Tamed the Streets of San Francisco

News /
SPUR’s 33rd annual Good Government Awards, held March 19, 2013, honored City of San Francisco employees who have performed exceptionally, becoming models for other agencies and cities around the country. Lea Militello was honored for her critical leadership in building a security plan for San Francisco streets, especially during public events. Her accomplishments over the October 2012 “busiest weekend in San Francisco” — when…

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.

Urban Field Notes: The Art Underground

Urbanist Article /
Art installations like those found in the London Tube could soon be a reality in the Bay Area due to the efforts of organizations such as SubArt, which is working to reinvent the mass transit experience in San Francisco by using art to transform BART and Muni Netro stations. Until then, our inspirational commute can be found in London.

The Future of Water

Urbanist Article /
Monumental investments in water delivery and infrastructure — largely to move water from north to south and east to west — supported the state’s economic expansion and urban growth in the 20th century. Though the Bay Area’s water supplies are sufficient today, in the future and in times of drought, we will need more water than we currently have.

Discovering San Jose by Bike

News /
An enthusiastic group of 45 urbanists on bikes kicked off a crisp Sunday morning to tour a few of San Jose’s historic neighborhoods with SPUR. Using the new bike lanes on 10th and 11th streets, along with a number of established bike routes and separated bike paths, we wove our way through three amazing gems — Naglee Park, Palm Haven and Willow Glen. Setting off…

Sacramento County Approves New Sprawl, Rejects the Sustainable Communities Strategy

News /
The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors is facing heavy criticism and a lawsuit for its decision to approve the Cordova Hills subdivision, a new development for 25,000 residents on what is now rolling hills and ranch land 22 miles east of downtown Sacramento. The development would add thousands of new homes far from the region’s center, violating the Sustainable Communities Strategy that every city…

SPUR Supports High-Rise Incentive Extension in San Jose

Advocacy Letter /
SPUR supports the extension of the high-rise incentive program in San Jose. This program encourages transit- and job-oriented housing development and would improve the livability of San Jose's downtown.