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.
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.
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.
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.

Updates and Events


SPUR Comments on Central Market Economic Strategy

Advocacy Letter
SPUR's comments contemplated actions to achieve the following objectives: enhance and activate the public realm, stabilize the existing community and support the establishment of a creative arts community, reduce vacancies and catalyze development, build community capacity and improve safety.

Big Plans to Fix Big Problems at Ocean Beach

News /
In late October, SPUR shared with the public a set of draft recommendations for the Ocean Beach Master Plan, a long-range vision for managing coastal erosion, infrastructure, access and ecology on San Francisco’s western coast. Of the six big ideas in the draft, here are two that propose the most significant — and most exciting — changes to streets, public spaces and coastal management at Ocean Beach.

How to Secure Transportation Funding? Commit to Growth

News /
The Bay Area is in the midst of a major planning initiative to identify where to grow and how to allocate scarce transportation dollars over the next 30 years. City agencies have been consulted in the development of the Sustainable Communities Strategy, but recently they got a chance to respond publicly to the plan and raise concerns about its three proposed growth scenarios. SPUR agrees with much of the city’s response, but we differ on a few key points. Namely, we believe San Francisco should absorb a big share of future growth.

SPUR Comments on Articles 10 and 11 of the Planning Code

Advocacy Letter
SPUR has been working with SF Architectural Heritage to develop a joint set of positions regarding historic surveys, districts and CEQA studies. All of these rules are contained within Articles 10 and 11 of the Planning Code, which are now being revised under the guise of “clean up” legislation. We are working to find a middle ground that will be acceptable to both thoughtful preservationists…

SPUR Comments on Transit Center District Plan

Advocacy Letter
In a November 1, 2011, letter to the San Francisco Planning Commission, SPUR expressed its opinion that the DEIR adequately analyzes the impacts of the Transit Center District Plan and Transit Center Tower. We believe the value of this plan in enabling the continued development of a walkable, transit-friendly downtown core outweighs the very small shadow impacts it generates.

To Fix Central Market, Start With a Strategy

News /
What’s the best way to revitalize Central Market? There isn’t one way, but many — and they all need to be coordinated with one another. While this sounds like an answer that Yoda might offer, we hope that the folks at the Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OWED) don’t have to rely on the Force alone to help finalize the Central Market Economic Strategy. The strategy is full of good ideas — and all will need substantial political support in order to be realized.