Living at 8th and Mission gives me a front row seat to the day-to-day life of the mid-Market area and a strong desire to see the often-discussed revival come to fruition. With the recent approval of the CityPlace mall and the groundbreaking for the remodel of the 50 U.N. Plaza federal building, it’s possible to see some momentum toward a more vibrant streetscape.

New green construction codes are important, but in a built-out city like San Francisco, retrofitting our existing built environment is key to creating a truly sustainable city. SPUR recommends creating a web-based tool that will educate property owners and increase awareness of the many free incentive and rebate programs currently available in San Francisco.

With this issue, we're kicking off the new year — and a new tradition — at SPUR. More confident in our ability to assess the present than predict the future, we've taken a stab at naming the biggest trends and events affecting urban planning in the Bay Area right now. Write to [email protected] with your own list!

For the 26 California cities designated as future high-speed rail stops, the new statewide system presents a once-in-a-century opportunity to reshape their local economies and set the course for more compact, less automobile-dependent growth. Beyond the Tracks identifies specific land-use planning strategies that will contribute to the success of high-speed rail and help cities, and ultimately California, realize the full potential of the multi-billion-dollar system.