San Francisco

New York City Homelessness

Late Action, Local Opposition Frustrate Emergency Homeless Shelter Plans

Some progress, but not nearly enough, has been reported as California and its cities scramble to procure temporary shelters to house homeless people during the pandemic.

April 23, 2020 - James Brasuell

San Francisco, California

Breaking News: 12 New 'Slow Streets' in San Francisco

Transportation officials in San Francisco are planning to restrict vehicle access on 12 streets around the city to make more room for pedestrians and people on bikes.

April 21, 2020 - San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency

California Shelter-in-Place

Contrasting the Coronavirus Impact in the Bay Area to New York City

Early intervention, or population density? NPR reporters based in the Bay Area and New York City offer explanations as to why the two regions are seeing such a wide contrast in experiences during the coronavirus outbreak.

April 8, 2020 - NPR

San Francisco Muni

Transit Almost Entirely Shut Down in San Francisco

Only 17 of San Francisco's 89 Muni transit routes will still operate by the middle of the week.

April 6, 2020 - San Francisco Examiner

San Francisco

Light Rail Service Suspended in San Francisco, South Bay Area

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency announced that it would shift resources away from light rail, starting Monday, and then the Valley Transportation Authority announced it was suspending light rail service in the South Bay immediately.

March 27, 2020 - KRON

Homeless

The Crisis Within the Crisis: Homelessness and Housing Pushed to the Brink by COVID-19

Cities, states, and the federal government are trying to prevent a repeat of 2008 while still facing the challenges of inequality and poverty that grew out of the previous recession.

March 26, 2020 - James Brasuell

People on Bikes and Pedestrians

Bikes Gain Popularity as People Ditch Subways and Buses

Bike counts and bike share rides are increasing in two of the country's largest cities as commuters look for transportation modes that allow for physical distancing.

March 18, 2020 - The New York Times

Transit Ridership

Transit Ridership Dropping Due to Coronavirus; Long-Term Funding Consequences Feared

The effects of a global pandemic on American shores are beginning to emerge for public transit systems. The consequences of a drop in transit ridership could extend beyond the end of the pandemic.

March 12, 2020 - Vice

San Francisco, California

Car-Free Market Street Benefits Micromobility, Transit Without Ruining Car Commutes, Studies Say

Multiple studies have quantified the early results from a project in San Francisco that blocked most private automobile traffic from Market Street in the city's downtown.

March 8, 2020 - Populus on Medium

San Francisco, California

Latest San Francisco Bike Battlefront: Valencia Street

With most private auto traffic banned on Market Street in downtown, a battle is brewing in the Mission District between Valencia Street merchants, led by a bike store owner, and cyclists who support converting a bike lane into a cycletrack.

February 27, 2020 - San Francisco Chronicle

SF Muni

Congestion Pricing Has Mayoral Support in San Francisco

Additional disincentives for driving (i.e., congestion pricing and new parking fees) are on the mayor's agenda in San Francisco.

February 19, 2020 - SFGate

San Francisco city

A New Planning Director in San Francisco

Outgoing San Francisco Planning Director John Rahaim announced his departure in September. Rich Hillis will be the next to have the job.

February 18, 2020 - San Francisco Chronicle

Sunset

Voters Could Get the Chance to Ease Development Restrictions in San Francisco

A ballot initiative by San Francisco Mayor London Breed would make it easier for qualifying developments (e.g., developments that include affordable housing) to sidestep discretionary approvals.

February 6, 2020 - The New York Times

Candlestick Point-Hunters Point Bayview

S.F. Bay Area Megaprojects Not Coming to Fruition

Plans for numerous large-scale developments in the region mean thousands of housing units should be on the way, but constant delays and setbacks have left projects nowhere near completion.

February 5, 2020 - San Francisco Chronicle

San Francisco, California

2,600 New Homes Approved in San Francisco

A massive new development at the former site of a polluting power plant is moving forward in the City by the Bay.

February 3, 2020 - Curbed San Francisco

San Francisco, California

Car-Free Streets Aren't a Silver Bullet

The San Francisco Chronicle's urban design critic tempers expectations for Market Street in San Francisco, where the city this week undertook an ambitious, but perhaps over-sold, redesign of the busy street.

January 31, 2020 - The San Francisco Chronicle

Streetcar

Market Street in San Francisco Closed to Cars

The historic, car-free transformation of San Francisco's busiest street opens to the public today.

January 29, 2020 - London Breed via Medium

The Castro

'A Strange, Second-Wave Gentrification' in San Francisco

Vast amounts of tech money have transformed the city's commercial spaces in unexpected ways.

January 19, 2020 - The Guardian

Transamerica Pyramid

Linking Office Construction to Affordable Housing—S.F. Ballot Initiative Would Try

Proposition E, a ballot initiative up for vote in San Francisco in May, is one of the most radical planning positions in recent years, attempting to reduce housing costs by limiting housing demand.

January 15, 2020 - Mission Local

Golden State Warriors

San Francisco Gets Lavish Urban Amenity—For Free

The new, privately financed Chase Center arena was designed with San Francisco's tech wealth in mind. It's a handsome addition to the Mission Bay neighborhood but pulls the Bay Area further away from its blue collar roots.

January 6, 2020 - Architect Magazine

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HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

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HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

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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.