What does it take to permit a 5 mile busway in California? In one case, a 5 mile busway in Coastal California required approval from 7 permitting entities, which placed 341 pre-construction conditions on the project, costing $15 million more than budgeted. While many permits are necessary for health and safety, the transit permitting process has become defined by the opaque, rigid - and often excessive- procedures that have accumulated over time and can negatively impact the actual delivery of public infrastructure and services. Learn more about these challenges and a policy roadmap to change them.

What role do arts and culture play in driving climate action? How can artists help cities meet climate goals—and how can cities support them in return? Join this webinar to explore the San José Climate Art Program, which engages artists in helping the city reach climate neutrality by 2030, and the Alameda Rising Tides Initiative, which uses public art to inspire action on sea level rise. Learn how your city can harness the power of arts and culture to advance climate and adaptation goals.

Join us to hear from affordable housing policy and funding experts on the federal budget landscape and updates including the permanent expansion of the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC), the Neighborhood Homes Investment Act, a new federal tax credit to incentivize creation of affordable homeownership opportunities, and funding for HUD programs including rental assistance and how advocates, developers and states are responding. The panel will also provide a round-up of federal housing policy legislation that has been introduced this session.

Join us for a guided tour of the West Oakland Prescott Market, a vibrant new food hall bringing together local flavors, small businesses, and a strong sense of community. Located at 1620 18th Street, this 12,000-square-foot venue transforms a historic industrial space into a lively gathering place for neighbors and food lovers. Explore the market’s standout vendors, including Almanac Beer Co., Pizzeria Violetta, Fast Times Burgers, Woo Can Cook, Cafe Noir, Highwire Coffee Roasters, and Prescott Meats & Delicatessen.

Join us for the opening night of Jakarta: A Mirror of a Thousand Reflections – Dimensions, an exhibition that explores the dynamic and layered landscape of Jakarta through the lenses of urban research and photography. Developed by scholar John Zarobell and photographer Pedro Lange-Churión, the project builds on the Comparative Urbanism: Learning from Jakarta conference held in August 2024 at SPUR, San Francisco, and offers a powerful reflection on urban life, development, and identity in one of the world’s largest cities. The evening will begin on the second floor with a panel discussion featuring Abidin Kusno, Lange-Churión, and Zarobell, drawing from Kusno’s Jakarta, City of a Thousand Dimensions (NUS Press, 2023) to explore themes of planning, lived experience, and visual storytelling in Asian megacities. Afterwards, guests are invited downstairs for a first look at the exhibition, along with light bites and drinks.

In 2023, SPUR and ULI San Francisco released a report with six key policy recommendations to support office-to-housing conversions. Our work has helped shape new local and state policies that ease regulatory and financial barriers through planning and code changes, CEQA streamlining, and new incentives. Learn what’s changed, what’s ahead, and share your ideas for how planners, architects, and community groups can drive downtown’s revival through adaptive reuse.