The Latino Urban Forum's James Rojas has made a name for himself by designing interactive planning models for some of the LA area's most famous neighborhoods. Recently, he took a crack at creating a more sustainable Santa Monica.
"Urban planner James Rojas, who's gained notoriety for his pedestrian-friendly visions, interactive models and passionate defense of Latino cultural icons such as the Taco Truck, has applied his vision to Santa Monica as part of an art show known entitled Shangri L.A."
"Using over, 2000 plus recycled knickknacks such Jenga pieces, Scrabble tiles, bottle caps, peppershakers, a translucent Boeing corporate paperweight and the like; Rojas creates a model for a future Santa Monica that is a pedestrian and bike paradise, designed to move residents and tourists from major transit hubs that will be created when the Subway to the Sea and Expo Light Rail lines are completed; the new design has circular streets that would slow down traffic and allow greater mobility for human-powered transportation."
"Rojas posits that the future of transportation in Southern California isn't going to resemble the Blade Runner vision of the movies, but rather it's polar opposite. Instead of a culture obsessed with using as much power as possible, future urban designs will accentuate, Streets for Human Powered Mobility, Places for Social Interaction, and Pedestrian Friendly Architecture ."
Thanks to Damien Newton
Read the full story: Los Angeles Streetsblog, Pushing Planning Boundries in Santa Monica with James Rojas
Judge orders Waymo to stop using 2 Santa Monica charging stations after noise complaints
Neighbors have asked the city to ban the company from using charging stations in residential areas between 11pm and 6am.
Santa Monica gets $2M grant to study I-10 freeway cap
City officials want to explore capping or even removing a portion of the freeway in the Pico neighborhood.
LA County's 'Beach Bus' offers $6 round-trip rides from inland LA to the beach
The annual summer service shuttles residents from eastside communities to Santa Monica.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
‘Going backwards:’ Baltimore mayor, students rally against state's transit funding plan
Maryland's proposed six-year plan provides no funding for Baltimore’s BMORE bus program and reduces its road maintenance funding.
Record-breaking wildlife overpass in Colorado brings 91% reduction in animal collisions
Prior to the overpass, vehicles were hitting one deer per day on Colorado’s Interstate 25.
Mamdani sent nearly 6,000 pied-à-terre tax warnings to homes that didn’t qualify
A judge has ordered the administration to cancel thousands of pied-à-terre tax notices after it sent 35% of them erroneously.
Detroit to transform waterfront with $2.2 billion investment
Developers will convert about 18 acres of unused parking lot space into civic spaces.
‘Going backwards:’ Baltimore mayor, students rally against state's transit funding plan
Maryland's proposed six-year plan provides no funding for Baltimore’s BMORE bus program and reduces its road maintenance funding.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
City of Thousand Oaks
City of Wisconsin Rapids
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA)
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello