Fashioning a New Los Angeles Along Its Boulevards

Christopher Hawthorne begins a series exploring the ways in which L.A. is utilizing its boulevards to try on "a post-suburban identity for the first time", with a look at Atlantic Boulevard, a major north-south spine.

1 minute read

May 14, 2012, 1:00 PM PDT

By Jonathan Nettler @nettsj


Hawthorne sees the dramatic evolution of L.A.'s boulevards, as they accomodate multiple modes of transit and increasingly become places to live, as the epicenter of the city's efforts to re-embrace the public realm. In the first in a series of multimedia articles on the topic, he explores Atlantic Boulevard, a major north-south route from the San Gabriel Valley to Long Beach. 

"The changes along Atlantic are emblematic of the way urban planners,
architects, shopkeepers and neighborhood activists are remaking the
boulevards of Southern California, reversing decades of neglect."

"The boulevard, in fact, is where the Los Angeles of the immediate
future is taking shape. No longer a mere corridor to move cars, it is
where L.A. is trying on a fully post-suburban identity for the first
time, building denser residential neighborhoods and adding new amenities
for cyclists and pedestrians."

"In the process, the city is beginning to shed its reputation as a
place where the automobile is king - or at least where its reign goes
unchallenged. Cities across the U.S. followed L.A.'s car-crazy lead in
the postwar era. This time around we might provide a more enlightened
example: how to retrofit a massive region for a future that is less
auto-centric."

 

Sunday, May 13, 2012 in Los Angeles Times

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

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

July 9, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Haussmann's redesign of Paris in the 1850s through 1870s under Napoleon III.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking

Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

June 30, 2025 - Tom Sanchez

Aerial view of suburban housing near Las Vegas, Nevada.

Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing

Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.

30 minutes ago - Shelterforce Magazine

Green bike share bikes parked in a row on a commercial street with outdoor dining and greenery.

Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive

Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.

1 hour ago - Cities Today

View from inside car's driver seat while driving.

Car Designs Make it Harder to See Pedestrians

Blind spots created by thicker pillars built to withstand rollover crashes are creating dangerous conditions for people outside vehicles.

2 hours ago - Bloomberg CityLab

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.

Home and Land Services Coordinator

Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners

Associate/Senior Planner

Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development

Senior Planner

Heyer Gruel & Associates PA