A Superior Court Judge has ordered the jailing of the builder of an elaborate and eccentric set of unpermitted buildings in the exurbs north of Los Angeles.
Known as "Phonehenge West", the compound has 13 buildings, including one shaped like a viking boat and a mobile home remodeled as an antique railroad car. It also has a number of code violations, for which the owner has been warned.
"'He's like Simon Rodia, who built the Watts Towers. This is folk art,' said Bill Guild, one of a handful of supporters who came to court Friday, referring to the Italian builder of the famed towers fashioned out of scrap materials in South Los Angeles. 'It seems a bit punitive to me.'
Fahey, wearing overalls and his long snow-white hair in a ponytail, told the court he has not had enough time to tear down the buildings after his conviction last month on a dozen misdemeanor building code violations.
The 59-year-old retired phone company technician said he has removed about 70 doors and windows from one of the illegal structures, a 70-foot tower, but noted he does not have a crane to pull down the entire edifice.
He added that he's not an electrician and doesn't know how to disconnect the power."
Read the full story: Calif. oddity's creator ordered jailed by judge
80-unit affordable building is the first to open under LA's fast-track development program
The project was fast-tracked under an executive order issued by Mayor Karen Bass in late 2022.
This Mexican city went paperless — and permitting times dropped by 84%
Guadalajara created an online permitting system that dramatically cut permitting times and bribe solicitations. Now, the entire state of Jalisco is using it.
Los Angeles Issues First Occupancy Permit in Pacific Palisades Since Wildfires
Permits in the Palisades are being issued at nearly three times the typical rate as before the wildfires.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour
If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.
Chicago breaks ground on $3 billion megadevelopment
The new neighborhood, titled Foundry Park, will one day host 3,700 residences.
Satanic place names
From streams and lakes to valleys and canyons, I mapped more than 1,000 places named after the Devil.
California High-Speed Rail Authority CEO resigns after $600,000 scandal
Under Ian Choudri, the authority used taxpayer dollars to fund first class flights and trips to nightclubs.
Want to study the Missouri River? Soon, you may need unanimous approval from 10 states
Legislation would require 10 governors’ permission to study or build projects moving water outside the basin.
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 Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority