SPUR Planning Policy Area

Planning

We believe: Growth can be good and should be directed to areas
that will support equitable development and sustainability.

Our Goals

• Leverage growth to create great neighborhoods and public spaces.

• Protect and expand open space.

• Concentrate new jobs and housing in downtowns and near major transit hubs.

• Grow up, not out.

Photo of a locally owned bakery storefront in downtown San Francisco

Policy Brief

Small and Mighty

San Francisco’s small businesses face complex regulations, rising costs, and slow economic recovery after the pandemic. SPUR identifies seven interventions to support the city's small business sector.
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Photo of high rise buildings in downtown San Francisco

SPUR Report

From Workspace to Homebase

Converting empty offices into apartments could both reanimate downtown San Francisco and provide housing for more people near transit, jobs, and culture. SPUR explores the suitability of converting office buildings to housing and tests the financial feasibility.
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illustration of a mixed-used downtown with offices, restaurants, childcare, retail, greenspace and transit

Urbanist Article

What If We Get Downtown Right?

SPUR asked community leaders: “What would it look like if cities were to get downtown right?” We invited them to picture a future in which today’s ideas and policy proposals for downtown revitalization are put into place ... and they work.
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photo of a pedestrian bridge and tree cover over the Guadalupe River

Virtual Exhibition

Re-Envisioning the Guadalupe River Park

The Guadalupe River Park is downtown San José’s most important urban green space, but it faces serious challenges. SPUR's virtual exhibition celebrates the promise of the river park and brings together three years of research and conversation about its future.
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Updates and Events

SPUR Comments on 1321 Mission

Advocacy Letter
The SPUR Project Review Committee finds this project to be an exciting development which will add life to this corner of Mission Street and strengthen the presence of valued San Francisco institutions. With some upgrades to the lobby, this building could seize the opportunity to be an innovative exemplar of how a bike-only building could succeed in the City.

SPUR Endorses 8 Octavia Project

Advocacy Letter
SPUR finds this project to be a very positive additional to the Octavia Blvd corridor. It creates a strong visual presence at the prominent portal to the boulevard while fostering a positive pedestrian experience; it adds needed housing to the neighborhood; and it does so with an imaginative and compelling design.

SPUR Endorses 100 VanNess Project

Advocacy Letter
The SPUR Project Review Committee finds this project to be an exciting and welcome improvement to one of the City’s larger buildings in a very prominent and transit accessible location. The combination of a design upgrade, the introduction of residential usage and the addition of retail at street level combine to make this a winning project.

Housing Trust Fund Heads to Voters in November

News /
After many months of work by SPUR and other housing advocates, the Housing Trust Fund, has made its way through San Francisco’s legislative process and been placed on the November ballot. We were very involved in crafting this measure, which would provide a permanent source of funding for affordable housing, encourage the creation of moderate-income housing and stimulate the production of market-rate housing. This…

Getting High-Speed Rail On Track

Urbanist Article
Much of the debate around high-speed rail revolves around federal funding. But with — or without — that revenue stream, SPUR believes that California can fund much of high speed rail on its own.
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