The chance to build Mission Bay with sustainable buildings is a rare opportunity, but some developers are missing out. This article discusses the greener features of the redevelopment plan.

A review of architecture and urban design at Mission Bay reveals that its projects have attracted good architects and landscape architects, but the results so far are generally less than stellar.

San Francisco's contracting process is inefficient and confused; amongst other things, SPUR recommends consolidating administrative processing and decentralizing implementation for departments capable of managing it.

Eco City, San Francisco

SPUR addresses Muni’s deficit, proposing to boost revenues by increasing the speed of boarding, reducing waits at lights, improving transit stop spacing, and favoring primary transit corridors.

SPUR’s review of CEQA found that after the law’s 30-plus years of operation, developments are environmentally worse than before. We need to change the way CEQA is applied in urban settings.

Since 1992, the Hope VI program has reshaped public housing in America’s cities. Rachael Peterson examines how this program has worked in San Francisco.

The article describes a new planning law in Oregon that reduces prior land use planning rules and gives more power to property rights and argues a similar measure is unlikely to pass in California.

San Francisco must face the problem of neglecting its capital investments as its physical foundation shows signs of deterioration.

The results of a Rincon Hill study commissioned by SPUR get us closer to understanding how high developer fees can go before making development infeasible.

This measure appeared on the November 2004 San Francisco ballot. What it does Proposition AA is a $980 million general obligation bond to pay for seismic safety improvements including strengthening tunnels, bridges, elevated structures, the Transbay Tube that runs under the San Francisco Bay, and other components of the BART system including the Muni Metro tunnels and stations between Embarcadero and West Portal stations…

This measure appeared on the November 2004 San Francisco ballot. What it does This is a companion measure to Proposition J, the proposed Transactions and Use Tax (sales tax) increase, which is also on the November ballot. Proposition O is a non-binding policy statement (i.e. it is purely advisory) recommending that the proposed one-quarter of one percent increase in the sales tax, if approved…

This measure appeared on the November 2004 San Francisco ballot. What it does This measure is a policy statement that reads in its entirety: "It is the Policy of the people of the City and County of San Francisco that: The Federal government should take immediate steps to end the U.S. occupation of Iraq and bring our troops safely home now."Why it is…

This measure appeared on the November 2004 San Francisco ballot. What it does This proposed ordinance, placed on the ballot by petition, would set aside a portion of hotel tax surcharge revenues to be used to purchase neighborhood single-screen movie theaters and promote the local film industry. The City administrator would contract with a private non-profit agency, Save Our Theaters, which would receive and…

This measure appeared on the November 2004 San Francisco ballot. What it does Proposition K is an ordinance introduced by the mayor and placed on the ballot by the Board of Supervisors that would change the way the City taxes businesses. It would add a 0.1 percent tax on gross receipts in addition to the current payroll tax. In addition, it would extend the…

This measure appeared on the November 2004 San Francisco ballot. What it does Currently, San Francisco 's Transactions and Use Tax (sales tax) is 8.50 percent. This proposed ordinance would permanently increase the sales tax to 8.75 percent. If dopted, the sales tax increase would raise $8 million during the portion of FY 2004-05 after the tax took effect, and $33.6 million in FY…

This measure appeared on the November 2004 San Francisco ballot. What it does This proposed ordinance would create an Office of Economic Analysis under the controller, which would prepare analyses of the potential economic impacts of legislation proposed at the Board of Supervisors. In addition, it would direct the Economic and Workforce Development Department (formerly the Mayor's Office of Economic Development) to periodically prepare…

This measure appeared on the November 2004 San Francisco ballot. What it does This ordinance would preclude the City from selling naming rights to Candlestick Park . The wording of this ordinance suggests it is intended to apply only to the current stadium and exempt future stadiums built on the site, however, it appears that the actual effect of the legislation could be to…

This measure appeared on the November 2004 San Francisco ballot. What it does The Health Service System was established in the Charter in 1937 to provide medical benefits to employees and retirees of the City, College District, and School District , and their dependents. It is currently managed by the Human Resources Department with rate and plan decisions proposed by the Health Services Board…

This measure appeared on the November 2004 San Francisco ballot. What it does Placed on the ballot by the Board of Supervisors, this amendment would grant parents and legal guardians of public schoolchildren who are not citizens of the United States the right to vote in San Francisco Board of Education elections.Why it is on the ballot This measure was placed on the…