Paul Shigley

<p>Seattle planner, architect and journalist Mark Hinshaw's new book, "True Urbanism," explains the theories behind why droves of people are abandoning the suburbs and flocking to dense, diverse urban environments.</p>

<p>In a ranking of California's best and worst mid-sized city downtowns, <em>California Planning &amp; Development Report</em> concluded that Pasadena's reputation is well-earned. Many say the transformation has been miraculous -- and it continues today.</p>

<p>A 1,400-unit condo project in Irvine demonstrates Orange County's newfound urban qualities, as well as its reluctance to shake suburban design values, according to Bill Fulton, who recently visited the construction site.</p>

<p>New urbanist designs can be beautiful in the hands of experts, but the developer's version of idealistic plans may be something else altogether, says Morris Newman, who examines the design of a 500-acre project in Fresno.</p>

<p>Everyone assumes that California's population will continue to grow for decades to come. But even with current projections for growth, history tells us that this fact isn't inevitable.</p>