UC as a Tool for Urban Development

Downtown San Francisco has been having well-publicized problems related to the post-pandemic drop in demand for office space, fewer people to support local businesses, and issues of crime. As a result, the mayor wants UC to step in. Of course, as the history of UCLA in Westwood or UC-Irvine in its area shows, dropping a campus into an area can indeed spur economic activity and development. From the San Francisco Chronicle:

The University of California is considering expanding its presence in San Francisco after Mayor London Breed reached out to persuade the university system to grow its footprint downtown. A spokesperson for the UC Office of the President — which serves as the Oakland-based headquarters for the university system’s 10 campuses, five medical centers and three affiliated national laboratories — said the system is “exploring opportunities to advance their research, public service, and education mission through an expanded presence in San Francisco.” 

UC Office of the President spokesperson Rachel Zaentz added that UC Berkeley is also involved in this effort. Both the president's office and UC Berkeley are looking at options in response to a letter penned by Mayor London Breed in May to the UC Board of Regents requesting that it consider opening a new campus in downtown San Francisco. More than one-third of the space inside of the city’s office towers is sitting vacant due to increasing remote work in the wake of the pandemic...

Full story at https://www.sfchronicle.com/realestate/article/uc-downtown-san-francisco-18605701.php.