California

S.F. to Shutter Lone Fossil Fuel Power Plant

After years of debate, San Francisco plans to close the diesel- and natural gas-burning Potrero Hill Plant, one of the dirtiest facilities in California, by January 1, reports John Coté.

December 24, 2010 - San Francisco Chronicle

Ohio and Wisconsin's HSR Loss is California's Gain

By refusing federal stimulus funds for high speed rail projects in their states, incoming Republican governors in Midwest gifted California over $600 million in new funding for the state's planned 800-mile network, says the Fresno Bee.

December 23, 2010 - The Fresno Bee

Status Quo Sprawl Lives On in Fresno

The approval of a massive shopping center in Fresno, California, highlights the city's inability to move beyond its sprawl-centric tendencies, according to this piece from The Fresno Bee.

December 22, 2010 - The Fresno Bee

The Walkable City of Death

San Francisco, one of the nation's most walkable cities, has one of the country's highest rates of pedestrian deaths.

December 21, 2010 - San Francisco Chronicle

Downtown L.A. Stadium Plans Fall Flat

Proposed designs for a possible football stadium in downtown L.A. leave a lot to be desired -- both architecturally and urbanistically, according to this review.

December 19, 2010 - Los Angeles Times

Signage Issues Resolved, Skyscrapers Get Approved in L.A.

Previous renderings of the building proposed for the two-tower, 42-story building on L.A.'s Wilshire Blvd. showed almost the entire structure wrapped in advertising. With a more modest space for signage, the project gets the thumbs-up.

December 18, 2010 - Curbed LA

The Tension Between Density and Place

Looking at a battle earlier this year over a proposed 430-ft. high skyscraper in San Francisco, John Parman says the problem with dense buildings is that they need to work with the surrounding place types.

December 17, 2010 - Living Urbanism

Troubles Persist in California's Delta

The process of re-designing California's Delta to protect endangered species, feed the state's farms and serve freshwater to its residents has become further complicated.

December 15, 2010 - The New York Times

Tolls Incite San Francisco Peninsula Border War

The mere possibility that a SF County Transportation Authority study could result in a 'border' charge (congestion toll) to drive into SF from San Mateo County has the latter floating their own competing toll for motorists entering San Mateo County.

December 14, 2010 - San Jose Mercury News

City's Fate Rests On Airport's Revival

Officials in Ontario, CA, contend that LA/Ontario Airport would be a major driver of development -- if it wasn't mismanaged by an airport authority controlled by the City of Los Angeles.

December 14, 2010 - California Planning & Development Report

Susan Straight's New Novel Depicts A Vision of LA Rarely Explored

Susan Straight's new novel draws on her experiences of growing downtown LA and its surroundings to create an image of a neighborhood 'reeking of cheap liquor and hurt.'

December 12, 2010 - Los Angeles Times

Ugly L.A. Deserves a Makeover

Los Angeles is ugly. But it doesn't have to be, argues Sam Lubell.

December 12, 2010 - The Architect's Newspaper

Connecting Job Centers With Transit in L.A.

Sirinya Tritipeskul delves into the data and creates maps that illustrate clearly where the job centers are in Los Angeles and where new transit plans will connect them to the region.

December 11, 2010 - The Source

LA Finally Approves Dedicated Bus Lanes Along Wilshire Boulevard

The Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority finally approved the construction of 7.7 miles of bus lanes along Wilshire Boulevard, with the exception of a one mile stretch in Westwood known as 'Condo Canyon.'

December 10, 2010 - The Los Angeles Times

LaHood Announces New HSR Winners & Losers

The loser list is short and no surprise: The governor-elects of OH and WI had campaigned against HSR projects in their states-they got their wish. The recipients of the redirected $1.2 billion were the surprise,with CA, FL, and WA being the happiest.

December 10, 2010 - U.S. D.O.T. Press Release

Predictions for California Planning in 2011

Paul Shigley of the California Planning and Development Report offers three predictions on what the state can expect to see in 2011 in terms of urban planning and development.

December 10, 2010 - California Planning and Development Report

A Photographic Tour of a Foreclosure Hotbed

Modesto, California has one of the highest rates of foreclosure in the U.S. This collection of photography documents the city's abandoned homes.

December 10, 2010 - Telstar Logistics

Calthorpe's Saltworks: Is it Smart Growth?

The Redwood City Saltworks development designed by Peter Calthorpe has taken a lot of flack from environmentalists -- and rightfully so, says John Parman, in particular for its susceptibility to potentially rising bay waters from global warming.

December 9, 2010 - The Architect's Newspaper

NIMBYs and Politicians Are Behind Your Bad Cellphone Reception

In San Francisco, Bernal Hill residents with dubious claims of health risks from microwave antennas have persuaded their supervisor to kill a wireless service providers plan to add to an already existing antenna, says Todd Lappin.

December 9, 2010 - Bernalwood

U.S. Court Of Appeals Rules 'Sprawl Fee' Lawful

A U.S. Court of Appeals has upheld a 2008 District Court ruling allowing a regional air quality district to manage land use for the improvement of air quality. CA's Central Valley Air Dist. now has a lawful Indirect Source Review or sprawl fee rule.

December 9, 2010 - AP via The Fresno Bee

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