On Wednesday, LA Metro started the process of soliciting proposals for the redevelopment of the 42 acres of land it owns around Union Station.
From article by Sam Lubell at ArchPaper.com:
"The area is LA's transportation hub, containing three subway lines as well as Amtrak and Metrolink stations and several bus lines. And it is set to augment that role in the future with the addition of METRO's Regional Connector and California High Speed Rail.
Specifics like building height limits as well as calls for mixed-use and transit oriented development, including commercial, retail, entertainment, housing, and eventually a new High Speed Rail terminal, will be dictated to some extent by the existing Alameda District Specific Plan, which was passed in 1996. The agency's goals for the project, according to a document it posted on its site today, include accommodating future transit needs, creating "an iconic place of extraordinary design," improving connectivity to the city around the station, and maximizing the value of METRO's investment in the project."
"The Vision Plan that METRO is requiring short listed teams to produce for the area will be an "unconstrained" and "imaginative vision of Union Station" consisting of visual perspectives and site plans that will be presented publicly. The goal, said Calvin Hollis, Executive Officer of Countywide Planning & Development at METRO, is to create some excitement about the property and get the community excited. The Vision Plans will hold no weight in the selection of a winning team."
A number of architects, planners, and engineers are calling the vision plans a "waste of time" because they will not be used to determine the winner of the future project.
FULL STORY: Downtown Dreams
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
San Francisco's School District Spent $105M To Build Affordable Housing for Teachers — And That's Just the Beginning
SFUSD joins a growing list of school districts using their land holdings to address housing affordability challenges faced by their own employees.
The Tiny, Adorable $7,000 Car Turning Japan Onto EVs
The single seat Mibot charges from a regular plug as quickly as an iPad, and is about half the price of an average EV.
Seattle's Plan for Adopting Driverless Cars
Equity, safety, accessibility and affordability are front of mind as the city prepares for robotaxis and other autonomous vehicles.
As Trump Phases Out FEMA, Is It Time to Flee the Floodplains?
With less federal funding available for disaster relief efforts, the need to relocate at-risk communities is more urgent than ever.
With Protected Lanes, 460% More People Commute by Bike
For those needing more ammo, more data proving what we already knew is here.
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.
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)