San Francisco

Retail Development, Housing Units to Replace San Francisco's NFL Stadium

A new retail center planned for the location of the former home of the San Francisco 49ers will serve as a hub of activity for 12,000 housing units in the planning pipeline over the next ten to 20 years.

November 19, 2014 - SFGate

San Francisco Monopoly

Cities Dominating the Economic Recovery

The affordability crisis and congestion are just two of the signs of the dominance of cities in the economic recovery, according to an article in the Washington Post. In fact, outside of cities, it doesn't look much like a recovery at all.

November 19, 2014 - The Washington Post

The Challenges of Being a Chief Resilience Officer

The seriousness of resilience for cities to plan and prepare for is evidenced by the creation of a new position called the chief resilience officer.

November 17, 2014 - Next City

San Francisco Parking

An Unintended Consequence of Unbundling Parking from Housing

Transportation and affordable housing advocates advocate unbundling parking from housing to provide an incentive to own fewer vehicles while reducing housing costs and increasing supply. But should parcel taxes be applied to parking spaces?

November 17, 2014 - San Francisco Chronicle

Oakland skyline and San Francisco Bay

The Biggest Transportation Winner on the Nov. 4 Ballot

The ballot measure generating the most new transportation funds approved by voters this month was in Alameda County, Calif. Voters chose to double an existing sales tax to one percent and extend it to 2045, raising $7.8 billion over 30 years.

November 16, 2014 - Contra Costa Times

Bay Bridge Bike Path: Cheaper is Better

The existing bike path on the eastern span of the Bay Bridge meets an abrupt dead end, though it will be extended to Yerba Buena Island next summer. Plans are underway to extend the path to San Francisco, but it won't be cheap.

November 15, 2014 - Contra Costa Times

Does Airbnb Impact the Affordable Housing Market?

Michelle Cohen discusses whether or not companies like Airbnb, which provide platforms for room and house-sharing aimed at travelers, impact a city's affordable housing market.

November 14, 2014 - 6ftsq

East Bay BRT Project Receives $81 Million in Federal Grants

Don't confuse East Bay Rapid Transit with Bay Area Rapid Transit: one's a bus, the other heavy rail. But calling it a bus does not do justice to what will be the Bay Area's first bus rapid transit (BRT) line composed primarily of dedicated lanes.

November 13, 2014 - San Francisco Chronicle

San Francisco Voters Increase Height Limits for Waterfront Development

Voters gave Forest City Enterprises' Pier 70 development the go-ahead on Tuesday by increasing height limits from 40 to 90 feet. The 65-acre property will be developed into mixed use, with 2,000 housing units, 30 percent affordable, and open space.

November 9, 2014 - San Francisco Chronicle

Competitors File Suit Over San Francisco's Airbnb Legislation

The already controversial law enabling Airbnb in San Francisco will head to court, as a competitor believes the city has granted Airbnb an unfair advantage.

November 6, 2014 - SFGate

Campaign 2014 Results: Bay Area Transportation, Land Use, and Soda Tax Measures

Votes exceeded the two-thirds threshold to pass two vital transportation funding measures in San Francisco and Alameda counties. In Berkeley (which passed the nation's first soda tax) and Menlo Park, voters resoundingly reject anti-growth measures.

November 6, 2014 - San Francisco Chronicle

Comparing Taxi, Transportation Network Company Fares Reveals the 'Cost of Loyalty'

An app that compares fares across transportation network company platforms reveals several lessons about the state of competition in this new transportation frontier.

November 1, 2014 - Architect This City

Bike, Pedestrian Toll on Golden Gate Bridge Survives First Vote

The concept of tolling sidewalk access to the Golden Gate Bridge squeaked by on a 10-9 vote on Oct. 24. The GGB Transportation and Highway District wants to consider the toll as a potential contributor to reducing the $33 million, five-year deficit.

October 26, 2014 - San Francisco Chronicle

Special Delivery: U.S. Postal Service and Groceries

The Postal Regulatory Commission approved of a two-year trial allowing the United States Postal Service to deliver groceries to homes in the morning.

October 25, 2014 - The Washington Post

San Francisco Approves Airbnb-Enabling Regulation Despite High Profile Opposition

None other than U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein, former mayor and native of San Francisco, penned an op-ed opposing a recent action by the San Francisco County Board of Supervisors to legalize short-term stays in private homes.

October 22, 2014 - San Francisco Chronicle

Is It OK to Charge Pedestrians and Bicyclists to Cross Toll Bridges?

The Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District might charge pedestrians and cyclists using the bridge in a plan to keep the district, which also runs buses and ferries between San Francisco and Marin and Sonoma counties, solvent.

October 22, 2014 - Marin Independent Journal

The Incredible Climate Mitigation Potential of Compost

Research has shown that the world's largest land use, grazing, holds enormous potential when linked with composting, to dramatically reduce the carbon content of the atmosphere through sequestration while concurrently restoring degraded rangeland.

October 20, 2014 - San Francisco Chronicle

Progress for San Francisco's Ambitious Bike Plans

Ariel Rosenstock updates San Francisco's progress in implementing the vision set forth by the 2009 San Francisco Bicycle Plan.

October 13, 2014 - The Architect's Newspaper

TOD Sign

Report: Transit Oriented Development Leads the Market in Major Metros

A report released last week by Cushman & Wakefield has won a lot of attention from media outlets covering large-scale development market trends. Among the report's findings: growing cities need to better support transit-oriented development.

October 8, 2014 - Globe St.

San Francisco Considers a 'Facadectomy'

One possible frame though which to consider the ongoing evolution of cities like San Francisco: the measures (sometimes) taken to preserve the historic fabric of the city.

October 3, 2014 - Socket Site

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.