A protest last week through downtown Los Angeles was meant to raise awareness of local activists' concerns that Los Angeles County Metro is displacing working class people and small businesses as it develops land adjacent to its stations.
Activists such as Isela Gracian, of East LA Community Corporation, argue that Metro is promoting "corporate-driven projects" adjacent to its rail stations in lower-income communities of South and East Los Angeles, reports Corey Moore.
"Gracian and others contend that the LA County Metropolitan
Transportation Authority has focused on promoting major retail chain
development on those parcels," writes Moore. "They say the agency has not done enough
to protect blacks and Latinos from displacement when – as they put it -
Metro 'corporatizes' the land it owns."
"Metro spokesman Marc Littman said that's not true."
"We've done to date, including what's under construction now, 1,222
affordable housing units. And so all these are green projects, we've
worked very closely with the community, they've generated a lot of
jobs," Littman said.
"Littman added that while the agency has removed some affordable
housing, Metro's replaced those units throughout LA County and will
continue to do that."
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
Planning for Accessibility: Proximity is More Important than Mobility
Accessibility-based planning minimizes the distance that people must travel to reach desired services and activities. Measured this way, increased density can provide more total benefits than increased speeds.
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.
New York Passes Housing Package Focused on New Development and Adaptive Reuse
The FY 2025 budget includes a new tax incentive, funding for affordable housing on state land, and support for adaptive reuse and ADUs.
LA Metro Board Approves New 710 Freeway Plan
The newest plan for the 710 corridor claims it will not displace any residents.
Austin’s Proposed EV Charging Rules Regulate Station Locations, Size
City planners say the new rules would ensure an efficient distribution of charging infrastructure across the city and prevent an overconcentration in residential areas.
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.