After years of work, and much community input, the City of Oakland has released a preliminary draft of the Downtown Oakland Specific Plan. The draft plan describes transformative ideas and recommendations that connect the community’s goals to potential strategic actions. Our report A Downtown for Everyone: Shaping the Future of Downtown Oakland laid out our vision for the future of downtown, and we are gratified…

Over the past several years, development proposals have started to mirror growing public demand for concentrated development near transit and they have provided a greater range of community benefits. With the passage of state Assembly Bill 2923, BART can now more easily develop housing on the parking lots it owns near stations. The Unity Council invites SPUR business members in exploring the challenges and opportunities that…

2019 is set to be a momentous year for San Jose, ushering in a new wave of development and city-building opportunities. To help inspire our collective big thinking, please join SPUR in a reflection with two visionary leaders - Lew Wolff and Tom McEnery - who were instrumental in transforming San Jose’s city center and have valuable lessons to share as we enter a new…

As the city grows, it is imperative that we address housing availability and affordability in order to ensure an inclusive downtown. This includes housing for the more than 4,300 employees and 33,000 students at San Jose State University, an integral part of the downtown fabric. Join SPUR for this discussion about innovative new ideas for university housing. Panelists: Joshua Burroughs, Senior Development Manager, SWENSON Charlie…

The SPUR Business Breakfast Series is an exclusive benefit of SPUR Business Membership and is by invitation only. If you would like to bring a guest and RSVP, please email us at [email protected]

SPUR and Airbnb invite you to a drinks reception and discussion on the future of home sharing. SPUR CEO, Gabriel Metcalf will be in conversation with Chris Lehane, Airbnb's Head of Global Policy and Communications. The intense growth of home-sharing platforms such as Airbnb has sparked debate on how cities should police short-term rentals in order to enable local economies to flourish while preserving the…

San Francisco's South of Market neighborhood (SoMa) has transcended its industrial past, becoming fertile ground in which hundreds of companies — technology startups and established firms alike — have taken root. But as these businesses continue to grow, their expansion is often impeded by the planning and building decisions of the past. These concerns may soon be forgotten, however, as the city moves to adopt…

Join us in contributing ideas directly to Mark Sawicki, director of the City of Oakland’s Department of Economic and Workforce Development, on how his department can address this question. The continued success of the Bay Area economy requires robust pathways to work, offering young people and low- and middle-wage workers opportunities to begin and advance in their careers. In light of reduced federal funding for…

Andrew Blau has been a strategy and innovation advisor to business, government and NGO leaders across a wide range of topics, including mobility and transportation, healthcare, global commerce and corporate strategy. Join SPUR as Andrew discusses how rapid advances in technology are reshaping our economy and society. To solve complex urban challenges, traditional cities are increasingly adopting disruptive digital technologies and utilizing the power of data to transform into 'smart cities.' Thank…

Following several years of dramatic increases in the cost of construction and continued shortages in housing supply, modular or "prefab" construction is sparking renewed curiosity among developers, investors and residents. Factory-built housing has captured the interest of those in search of more effective, productive and potentially inexpensive ways to build housing. New projects underway and on the horizon indicate that modular housing might finally begin to fulfill its promise. Join us for an evening reception…