As L.A.'s massive downtown stadium and convention center project hurtles towards final approval, the questions regarding its design and feasibility grow to a roar.
Today, L.A.'s City Council is set to consider final approval for a plan to build an NFL stadium, and undertake renovations to the city's neighboring convention center, being pushed by developer AEG. Although approval is seemingly a fait accompli, news that a "Vision Team" of architects handpicked by Mayor Villaraigosa to evaluate the project's design delivered a stinging report that has been ignored by the city is adding to the growing uncertainties surrounding the project.
Just last week it was revealed, quite stunningly, that the company spearheading the project has put itself up for sale.
According to Dakota Smith, "[w]hile the stadium design faced some criticism from the Vision Team, the most radical suggestion was reserved for the hall," which the report concluded has major flaws.
"'This is not good city design,'
Norman Millar, president of the Burbank-based Woodbury University School
of Architecture, and one of the Vision Team members, said in an
interview this week. 'Plain and simple. It's a no-no.'"
"Seen as unrealistic because of budget constraints and the
project's fast timeline, city planning officials never presented the
recommendations to move or redesign the hall to the full Planning
Commission, which signed off on the project at its meeting two weeks
ago."
"'Villaraigosa knows this is
his legacy,' said [Vision Team member Joseph] Coriaty, expressing concern that the convention center
and the stadium 'just slam up next to each other' in the design."
"But the city is going to live with this, and it's a missed opportunity."
FULL STORY: Architects call for redesign of L.A. Convention Center hall, part of AEG NFL project

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

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
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.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie