Marissa Gluck attributes downtown L.A.'s resurgence to some unlikely community development partners - our four-legged friends.
Marissa Gluck writes that the resurgence of downtown Los Angeles over the last decade, as old offices were converted into apartments, was spurred, at least partly, by the intentionally pet-friendly policies of building owners. These policies boosted the the number of renters with dogs in the downtown area, driving "residents out of their homes and into the street at least twice each day" to mix with their neighbors and activate the streets.
Real estate developer Tom Gilmore, one of the early leaders of downtown's revitalization, argues that "'Random interaction is a key component of a vital urban environment'...Dogs, he reasons, are the 'lubricant' that helps residents interact with their neighbors and local shop owners. 'Walking out of your door every day should bring a series of unintended events.'"
USC Associate Professor Elizabeth Currid-Halkett agrees that the community has grown strong, but attributes the development to "amenities and businesses," instead of the dogs. Either way, with 40 percent of current downtown residents owning a dog, their presence in the neighborhood is transforming downtown into a pooch's paradise.
Thanks to Akemi Leung
FULL STORY: How dogs saved a Los Angeles neighborhood
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
Coming Soon to Ohio: The Largest Agrivoltaic Farm in the US
The ambitious 6,000-acre project will combine an 800-watt solar farm with crop and livestock production.
World's Largest Wildlife Overpass In the Works in Los Angeles County
Caltrans will soon close half of the 101 Freeway in order to continue construction of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing near Agoura Hills in Los Angeles County.
California Grid Runs on 100% Renewable Energy for Over 9 Hours
The state’s energy grid was entirely powered by clean energy for some portion of the day on 37 out of the last 45 days.
New Forecasting Tool Aims to Reduce Heat-Related Deaths
Two federal agencies launched a new, easy-to-use, color-coded heat warning system that combines meteorological and medical risk factors.
AI Traffic Management Comes to Dallas-Fort Worth
Several Texas cities are using an AI-powered platform called NoTraffic to help manage traffic signals to increase safety and improve traffic flow.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
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.