San Francisco
SF's Pyramid Defies Expectations
Forty years ago, an unusual proposal for a pyramid-shaped skyscraper caused outrage across San Francisco. Today, it is recognized as a worthy addition to the skyline. John King looks at the building's transformation from eyesore to icon.
SF's Transbay Terminal Project Edges Closer to Groundbreaking
The New York Times looks at plans for the new Transbay Terminal in San Francisco, which could break ground within months.
Pushing Public-Private Partnerships in San Francisco Parks
Parks officials in San Francisco look to mimic New York City's approach to funding parks through public-private partnerships.
Treasure Island A Future Atlantis?
The City of San Francisco recently inked a deal to purchase the man-made Treasure Island sitting in its bay. But some wonder if an island threatened by rising sea levels was really such a smart buy.
Spend More, Get Less
Is San Francisco the worst-run big city in the country? The SF Weekly argues that despite spending more per capita than any other city, SF fails to deliver on almost everything.
San Francisco Claims Treasure Island
The City of San Francisco has secured a deal with the U.S. Navy to purchase Treasure Island, a man-made island in the middle of San Francisco Bay. The city has broad plans to redevelop the site.
Will Carpools Be Tolled in San Francisco?
The Bay Area Toll Authority is recommending carpools on the Bay Bridge be tolled, along with several other changes like different rates for off-peak hours and a steep increase on truck tolls.
New Retail Space Faces Challenges in San Francisco
A developer who hopes to put a new shopping center on a stretch of Market Street will face challenges from local groups who take issue with the accompanying parking structure and modern design.
Broad Plan to Reshape San Francisco's Skyline
Planners in San Francisco are proposing a 145-acre "transit center district" that would dramatically reshape the city's skyline.
Huge San Francisco Redevelopment Project Underway
It's the largest redevelopment project since the great earthquake of 1906: 702 acres, 10,500 residential units, a shipyard brownfield cleanup, and a new stadium (hopefully) for the 49ers. The Environmental Impact Report has just been released.
Lucrative Congestion-Priced Parking Applied in SF
Parking by the Giants Stadium costs $1 less an hour than before the pilot program began, but on 'game days', the rate shoots up four-fold. Parking rates are not set daily but hourly by time of day, and have become quite profitable.
There Are Planners, And There Are Politicians
Put the chief planners of seven of North America's most progressive cities in a room and ask about their challenges, they inevitably point to the overriding role of the political leaders they serve. Expanding public open space also was raised.
The True Cost of Commuting from the Exurbs
A new study from ULI details the transportation costs for households around the San Francisco Bay Area, and finds that SFers spend on average $500 less each month than suburban dwellers in the area.
Transit Cheats Plague San Francisco's MUNI
Ever wonder how many people hop on those cable-cars in San Fran without paying the fare? Well, it turns out that transit cheats cost MUNI, San Francisco's transit agency, an estimated, $19 million a year.
Is Bright Right or Blight?
A proposal to create a new outdoor advertising district in San Francisco has some locals anticipating a retail revival, while others dread the possible billboard blight.
David Byrne (Hearts) Bikes
Musician David Byrne gathered a panel of planners and cyclists for a spirited conversation in San Francisco about the joys of urban cycling.
Combining Pavement and Reusable Materials to Make Urban Parks
Allison Arieff argues that cities should look to reversible parks modeled on the Pavement to Parks program to prevent blight, combat the practice of land banking, and model sustainable practices.
The History of San Francisco's Urban Form
Some call it a city of neighborhoods. This piece from the San Francisco Chronicle looks at the history of the urban form of San Francisco and why it looks the way it does today.
Frappuccino-Colored Streets
Would you slow for beige? Planners in San Francisco hope so, as they plan to differentiate sections of Market St. where they'd like traffic to slow down with 'frappuccino'-colored asphalt.
San Francisco's Fast Park Movement
New parks are popping up with a quickness in San Francisco, where planners have fast-tracked the conversion of street spaces into pedestrian parks.
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.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
Planetizen
Planetizen
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
