Urban Ecology is a 45-year-old non-profit dedicated to building more sustainable cities. It was founded in 1975 by visionary architects and activists who believed that cities should serve both people and nature. From the beginning, Urban Ecology’s mission has involved using urban planning, ecology, and public participation to help design and build healthier communities and cities.
Current Pursuits
In 2021, Urban Ecology offered to serve as a fiscal agent for two ground-breaking, hyper-local, journalism and community engagement projects based in the San Francisco Bay Area.
1990-2013 Activities
Plans
Weeks Neighborhood Plan
The Weeks Neighborhood in East Palo Alto is unique in the San Francisco Bay Area. It is a richly green place with many large trees and open views, in sharp contrast to the concrete and freeways of much of the Bay Area. Many people come to the neighborhood and stay for a lifetime, creating a close-knit community.
Revitalization
Mission Corridor Plan Commercial Revitalization
Home to succeeding waves of immigrants, San Francisco's Mission District is today a vibrant working-class Latino neighborhood of 57,000. The diversity of businesses along Mission Street testify to the areas rich history. The corridor was once a hub of restaurants, stores, professional services, and apartments and residential hotels, with a busy night scene revolving around the Art Deco movie palaces that gave the skyline its distinctive character.
Blueprint
Introduction: Blueprint for a Sustainable Bay Area
Urban Ecology’s award-winning Blueprint for a Sustainable Bay Area is a vision for the future of the Bay Area. Published in December 1996 and winner of nine local and national awards, it examines land use and sustainability at within the home, in our neighborhoods, at the scale of our cities, and for the full region.