New York has excelled in public realm design. SPUR points out that NYC is one of the most bike and pedestrian friendly cities in the United States because planners continue to aggressively rebalance street space to accommodate all modes of transportation. Examples of radical changes on the streets of New York abound, from the pedestrian-friendly Times Square renovation, to the brightly colored bus lanes on Second Avenue and the protected bike lanes at Prospect Park. Though San Francisco has implemented some streetscape improvements in the last few years, and will implement more in the future, SPUR stresses that it is important to think big, and not to shy away from changes that may spark backlash at first if they result in an improved quality of life for residents and visitors to the city.

Another asset that makes New York such an efficient hub of economic and social activity is the extensive 468-station subway system. Though it looks a bit rough around the edges, it operates 24 hours a day and is vital to the city’s economy. As such, the MTA continues to expand the system and is currently boring tunnels for a extension of the 7 line as well as a new line down Second Avenue, in addition to opening new free transfer points that make for a more seamless commute. The Bay Area must prioritize public transportation as it grows larger, as NYC’s subway proves how important transportation links are to a city’s development.

Another crucial element that causes major problems in New York and San Francisco is housing. Both cities have high numbers of singles with few homes designed for that demographic, and both face exorbitant housing costs which city governments need to adress. In New York, “Making Room” is an innovative initiative that seeks to help the city respond to changes in the way people live and how they house themselves.

All in all, though San Francisco and the Bay Area lead in many domains, when it comes to urban development and growth, SPUR reminds us that we can and should look to New York as a model for inspiration.
· The Urbanist [SPUR]
· Plan Bay Area adopted by regional planners [SFGate]
· The City’s Next Wave of Major Streetscape Improvements [Curbed SF]
· The Project [Making Room]

Article source: http://sf.curbed.com/archives/2013/08/05/spur_explores_what_the_bay_area_can_learn_from_new_york.php

Job growth in the Bay Area will outpace California and the United States, according to a new report.

Steven E.F. Brown
Web Editor- San Francisco Business Times

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With job growth over 3 percent, the Bay Area should “continue to lead the recovery” in California this year, according to a report from the University of the Pacific.

While the Golden State’s job growth will stick at about 2 percent over the next few years — that’s marginally faster than the likely U.S. rate — the metropolitan region around Oakland and San Francisco will outstrip that. So says a report by the Stockton school’s Business Forecasting Center.

The report says, however, that Bay Area job growth will slip below 2 percent in 2014 “as the national economy fully recovers and high housing costs and other constraints to growth become more binding.”

Growth in 2014 will shift inland to Sacramento and Stockton — construction and real estate jobs will increase, and state and local governments will recover slowly.

Steven E.F. Brown is web editor at the San Francisco Business Times.

Article source: http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/news/2013/02/12/bay-area-will-lead-californias.html