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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Updates and Events

SPUR Supports AB 1706, Financial Feasibility Incentives for "Missing Middle" Housing

Advocacy Letter
SPUR supports California AB 1706, which would provide incentives to build much-needed housing that targets the “missing middle." The bill would provide financial feasibility incentives and a shortened approval timeline to Bay Area housing development proposals that provide mixed-income housing, serve the missing middle, pay prevailing wages and meet certain infill location requirements.

SPUR Supports AB 1485, Statewide Incentives for "Missing Middle" Housing

Advocacy Letter
SPUR supports California AB 1485, which would help clear a path for much-needed housing developments that target the “missing middle." The bill would do so by making projects with a higher percentage of units reserved for moderate and middle-income households eligible to utilize SB 35.

SPUR Supports AB 670, Accessory Dwelling Units in Common Interest Developments

Advocacy Letter
Creating more in-law apartments, or accessory dwelling units, will help make a dent in California's housing shortage. SPUR supports AB 670, which would nullify prohibitions against accessory dwelling units in common interest developments. Since so much potential for accessory dwelling units lies in single-family neighborhoods, it is important that homeowners’ associations be stopped from creating blanket prohibitions against them.

Policy Proposal: Jump-Start Development Near Transit with Temporary TOD

News /
The passage of Assembly Bill 2923 means Bay Area cities must change their zoning to accommodate development on land that BART owns around its stations. Long-term plans for building housing will take time. In the short term, u sing the methods of tactical urbanism could give development near stations a jump start while allowing them to grow and change over time.
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