Twenty-Five Years of Excellence Award

This award honors organizations that have exemplified strong and enduring leadership, creative solutions to community challenges, and long-term relevance, thereby paving the way for other community- building entities.

SPUR was formed as the San Francisco Planning and Urban Research Commission shortly after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake to help improve the quality of housing in San Francisco. As the organization evolved over the years, its focus expanded.

SPUR was one of the first organizations to advocate for “transit first” policies, as well as fight for affordable housing in a city that has seen its cost of living grow at a rapid pace. The organization promoted the central city as the key point of development while limiting suburban sprawl. SPUR also advocated for the development of the BART transit system and played a large role in the founding of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. These successful endeavors among others helped to create the modern and eminently livable San Francisco we know today.

With over 4,000 active members, a new office in San Jose, and plans for another office in Oakland, SPUR is looking to expand their balanced approach to planning. No doubt, SPUR will help those communities flourish by contributing to their design and planning as they have in San Francisco for decades.

Gabriel Metcalf is the executive director of SPUR. Under his leadership, SPUR has grown dramatically in influence and membership. Before becoming executive director in 2005, Gabriel headed up SPUR’s policy and advocacy work for five years. Prior to SPUR, he worked for the Bay Institute, an environmental organization focused on California water policy. He was also a co-founder of City CarShare and for many years served as its board chairman.