James Brasuell, AICP is the former editorial director of Planetizen and is now a senior public affairs specialist at the Southern California Association of Governments. James managed all editorial content and direction for Planetizen from 2014 to 2023, and was promoted from manging editor to editorial director in 2021. After a first career as a class five white water river guide in Trinity County in Northern California, James started his career in Los Angeles as a volunteer at a risk reduction center in Skid Row. Prior to joining Planetizen, James worked at the Cal Poly Pomona College of Environmental Design, as an editor at Curbed LA, as editor of The Planning Report, and as a freelance contributor for The Architect’s Newspaper, the Urban Land Institute – Los Angeles Chapter, FORM, KCET, and the California Planning & Development Report.
Texas 288 Tollway: Big Public-Private Partnership Plans
A public-private partnership to build a large tollway south of Houston has taken important first steps. Construction will commence later this year.
Mountain View Breaks Rank—Approves Large Amount of New Residential Land Uses
According to a new plan approved by the city of Mountain View, developers could now add a large amount of dense housing on the doorstep of Google's headquarters.
Landowner's Response to Development Failure: Call in the Klan
A landowner looking for revenge after neighbors and local officials prevented a proposal to develop 24-acres has gotten creative in irritating the locals.
How One Developer Is Delivering Urban Infill
Doug Bauer, CEO of one of the nation's largest homebuilders, describes the political and design decisions that contributed to the success of urban infill projects in four unique case studies.
Chinatown Residents Create Their Own Plan to Prevent Displacement
In a city looking to land use regulations for answers to an affordable housing crisis, one collection of community groups attempted to create a plan of their own.