Downtown Los Angeles is on the verge of a full-scale revitalization, and an ambitious new plan for 15 acres of parkland in the urban core could be the missing piece.
"The lack of an urban centerpiece like New York's Central Park or Washington's National Mall, although never a fatal flaw in a city of nomads and a culture wedded to the automobile, has nonetheless vexed generations of Angeleno politicians and planners... An ambitious $1.2-billion plan to drape Los Angeles' core with 15 acres of parkland and boost area nightlife with a bustling retail and entertainment complex is gathering political momentum, although financing for the project remains a mystery."
Thanks to Chris Steins
FULL STORY: Urban Core Plan Gains

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Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths
Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

Adaptive Reuse Will Create Housing in a Suburban Texas Strip Mall
A developer is reimagining a strip mall property as a mixed-use complex with housing and retail.

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In U.S., Urban Gondolas Face Uphill Battle
Cities in Latin America and Europe have embraced aerial transitways — AKA gondolas — as sustainable, convenient urban transport, especially in tricky geographies. American cities have yet to catch up.
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