The San Francisco Chronicle

In many urban areas, farmers' markets provide both a connection to nature and a sense of community.

San Francisco's new light rail line, the 5-mile T-Third, opened for free, weekend service Jan 13. The service is intended to revitalize the sagging south-east neighborhoods, but some bus riders question the new line. Daily service begins April 7.

Hailed by many as setting a new fuel standard to reduce carbon emissions and questioned by others as to its effect on smog levels and gas prices, the new regulation will reduce the carbon content of transportation fuels 10% by 2020.

John King, urban design critic for the SF Chronicle, concludes that the replacement of a 1959 freeway in the heart of San Francisco with an elaborate boulevard is an urban success story, and so does the APA.

The population growth rate has decline for the sixth year in a row in California, causing policymakers to voice concern over a future shortage in the state's educated workforce. High costs of living are blamed for the decline.

The Captiol Corridor between Sacramento and the San Francisco Bay Area -- Amtrak's third most popular line -- celebrates its 15-year anniversary and reports growing ridership and rider satisfaction.

Land has been purchased for what will be Oakland's fourth cohousing project, a collection of about 33 housing units with an underlying purpose of cooperation and community. Similar community housing projects are cropping up across the country.

With gas prices falling and the amount of federal tax credits dwindling, sales of hybrid cars have hit a downward slide.

Restoring and redeveloping aging piers in San Francisco is helping to create a vibrant pedestrian promenade. But some feel the costs and developmental restrictions associated with the renovations are hindering the full potential of the area.

As the 49ers threaten to move out of San Francisco, the city has revealed to the public its plans for a new stadium. The team saw the plan two weeks ago and have withdrawn support, claiming that the plan does not provide the best "fan experience".

Contrary to popular belief, the City of Oakland made very little profit, if any, on having the Oakland Athletics play at the McAfee Coliseum. The baseball team's pending move within Alameda County frees the stadium for more lucrative events.

While late to adopt bus rapid transit, San Francisco's Muni is planning to bring fully-fledged BRT lines, complete with dedicated lanes, to the city by 2010.

According to a survey by the San Francisco Chronicle, redevelopment agencies in the Bay Area and throughout the state very rarely use their powers of eminent domain to take private residences for redevelopment purposes.

A design competition for the new Transbay Terminal in San Francisco anticipates only the most high profile international architects to participate.

The number of permits issued for new home construction has taken a major downturn in California, where the amount of new home permits has fallen 47% since last year.

Alleys -- considered by many to be dangerous or neglected, can become a fertile ground for 'organic new urbanism', says architect David Winslow.

While all eyes are on the potential housing bubble bursting, apartment rents are rising, over ten times more rapidly than home prices are falling in the Bay Area.

A ballot measure restricting growth on ranchland and hillsides in Santa Clara County is the most polarizing of the six county and two city measures that affect open space, parks, developments and urban growth boundaries.

India must eradicate its ubiquitous shantytowns if it is to become an economic success story. Just such an effort is underway in the Dharavi neighborhood outside Mumbai by Mukesh Mehta, an Indian architect and developer.

A new transportation museum celebrating the streetcar has opened in San Francisco, fittingly opposite the ferry building where they once took commuters from the East and North Bay ferries down Market Street.