With only one parklet completed in the city thus far, L.A. has its work cut out to catch its pioneering northern neighbor San Francisco, and their 40 parklets. By the end of this week, however, the city hopes to have the ball rolling.
Damien Newton reports on four parklets being considered for approval this week by the L.A. City Council and its relevant committees, which, if approved, "would join the Sunset Triangle Plaza as examples of the city making use of its abundance of curb-side parking to create open space for all residents."
To be located in downtown, Northeast L.A., and the El Sereno Street Plaza, "These first demonstration parklets allow for Los Angeles to join
the growing list of cities who are using parklets to re-think the use of
streets and enhance the public right of way," explains Madeline Brozen, the Program Manager for UCLA's Complete Streets Initiative.
According to Newton, "Funding has already been identified for the projects on El Sereno Street
and York Boulevard, and the Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council
promises that private and in-kind donations will fund construction of
the two on Spring Street."
FULL STORY: City Council Poised to Approve Four More Parklets
West Hollywood Pilots Pop-Up Walkability Improvements
Six-month pilot projects along the Sunset Strip include a parklet and painted sidewalk extensions by a street artist.
'Kit of Parts' Streamlines the Process of Converting Streets into Parks
An Atlantic Cities article details how the Los Angeles Department of Transportation’s People St program is making it easier for communities to design and build plazas, parklets, and bike facilities on their streets.
City Initiative Embraces Bottom-Up Placemaking in L.A.
The same week that the City of L.A. made a big splash with its "Great Streets Initiative", a new program that has the potential to have a sizable impact on city streets went less noticed. Damien Newton reports on the city's "People St" program.
Depopulation Patterns Get Weird
A recent ranking of “declining” cities heavily features some of the most expensive cities in the country — including New York City and a half-dozen in the San Francisco Bay Area.
California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million
Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.
Chicago to Turn High-Rise Offices into Housing
Four commercial buildings in the Chicago Loop have been approved for redevelopment into housing in a bid to revitalize the city’s downtown post-pandemic.
Google Maps Introduces New Transit, EV Features
It will now be easier to find electric car charging stations and transit options.
Ohio Lawmakers Propose Incentivizing Housing Production
A proposed bill would take a carrot approach to stimulating housing production through a grant program that would reward cities that implement pro-housing policies.
Chicago Awarded $2M Reconnecting Communities Grant
Community advocates say the city’s plan may not do enough to reverse the negative impacts of a major expressway.
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