Christopher Hawthorne reflects on the simultaneous rise of bicycle culture and anti-transit NIMBYs. Can Angelenos come together to move forward when it comes to transportation and the built environment?
Hawthorne sees events like CicLAvia (which brought 100,000 bicyclists out onto the streets of the city) and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's plans to extend the light rail and the subway as hopeful signs that L.A. is moving past its sprawling history. But there is also a growing tide of naysayers that are having a deleterious effect on those efforts.
Hawthorne writes:
"Take a recent flap over proposed town houses in Echo Park - and City Council President Eric Garcetti's reaction to it. Garcetti is knowledgeable and thoughtful on issues related to density, growth, transit and park space. But like any L.A. public official, he remains vulnerable to the prevailing political winds, which often blow strongly against the idea of a denser city. Earlier this month, his office announced that it would not support construction of the controversial eight-unit project, which would be in Garcetti's district."
FULL STORY: Critic's Notebook: There's a growing disconnect on a better-connected L.A.
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Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont