Back To The Future: The 1970 Los Angeles 'Centers' Concept Plan

The 1970 Concept Los Angeles plan is a history lesson for urban planners and a vision of what the city could have looked like.

1 minute read

November 12, 2012, 4:29 PM PST

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Concept diagram from 1970 Los Angeles General Plan

Planetizen / Planetizen

Many say Los Angeles is a city that grew without any rational planning. In reality the planning was there—but much of the best planning never quite materialized. A perfect example is the 1970 Concept Los Angeles plan—a vision of what the city could have looked like and now a history lesson for planners. For the first time, it is available in digital format for free download on Planetizen.

A summary of the the 1970 Concept Los Angeles plan is also available as a PDF for download.

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