Competing ballot measures in San Francisco's upcoming election will help decide whether a developer will be allowed to build a mid-rise luxury condo project along the city's waterfront. The Board of Supervisors approved the project last year.
Non-profits, neighborhood groups and Bay Area leaders are lining up to support competing ballot measures concerning the controversial 8 Washington mixed-use redevelopment project that will come before voters on Nov. 5.
"Opponents of 8 Washington and its 134 very expensive condos are calling their effort No Wall on the Waterfront," explains John Wildermuth. "They argue that the plan for five- and six-story buildings along the Embarcadero and others behind them rising to 136 feet along Drumm Street shatter the long-standing 84-foot waterfront height limit and close off public sight lines."
"Supporters of the project, though, list their campaign group as Open Up the Waterfront, saying the condo development will eliminate a surface parking lot controlled by the port and a private tennis club now surrounded by more than 1,700 feet of 12-foot-high green fencing. It would add public open space, complete with wider walkways, new bike paths, sidewalk shops and open-air cafes."
"If both measures pass, the proposition that has the most votes is supposed to prevail, but in all likelihood would lead to more legal challenges."
FULL STORY: Bay-front condo high-rise in S.F. ballot showdown

Manufactured Crisis: Losing the Nation’s Largest Source of Unsubsidized Affordable Housing
Manufactured housing communities have long been an affordable housing option for millions of people living in the U.S., but that affordability is disappearing rapidly. How did we get here?

Americans May Be Stuck — But Why?
Americans are moving a lot less than they once did, and that is a problem. While Yoni Applebaum, in his highly-publicized article Stuck, gets the reasons badly wrong, it's still important to ask: why are we moving so much less than before?

Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.

Greening Oakland’s School Grounds
With help from community partners like the Trust for Public Land, Oakland Unified School District is turning barren, asphalt-covered schoolyards into vibrant, green spaces that support outdoor learning, play, and student well-being.

California Governor Suspends CEQA Reviews for Utilities in Fire Areas
Utility restoration efforts in areas affected by the January wildfires in Los Angeles will be exempt from environmental regulations to speed up the rebuilding of essential infrastructure.

Native American Communities Prepare to Lead on Environmental Stewardship
In the face of federal threats to public lands and conservation efforts, indigenous groups continue to model nature-centered conservation efforts.
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.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
City of Moreno Valley
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
City of Cambridge, Maryland