Sorry Cars, L.A. Begins Turning its Streets Over to People

With the launch of a new website, the city of L.A. has begun an exciting experiment in community-based placemaking. The "People St" program will soon accept applications to convert underused street space into plazas, parklets, and bicycle corrals.

1 minute read

January 23, 2014, 11:00 AM PST

By Jonathan Nettler @nettsj


Since Mayor Garcetti announced one of his first major placemaking initiatives in October, community groups across Los Angeles have been waiting to learn more about how the innovative bottom-up, community-based People St program would work. With the launch of PeopleSt.org this week, the city's Department of Transportation (LADOT) has flushed out the details, reports Damien Newton. "All of the documents a community group needs to apply to create a plaza, parklet or bicycle corral in their own community are available online."

Not only does the website walk interested community groups through the application process, it also provides "pre-approved, required 'Kit of Parts' of design elements, intended to expedite the project process for Community Partners and avoid lengthy design review that would come with novel designs." Though any group is encouraged to apply, LADOT will select finalists for the program based on "community support, project location and ability to maintain the project once it is built."

"The People St program is a new step for the City of Los Angeles. It’s a more grass-roots and community focused style of planning than L.A. (or really any city) is used to," adds Newton. "If advocates, residents and other stakeholders wish to see more of this kind of planning, then People St needs to be an overwhelming success."


Tuesday, January 21, 2014 in LA.Streetsblog

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

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.

June 25, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Person wearing mask walking through temporary outdoor dining setup lined with bistro lights at dusk in New York City.

Restaurant Patios Were a Pandemic Win — Why Were They so Hard to Keep?

Social distancing requirements and changes in travel patterns prompted cities to pilot new uses for street and sidewalk space. Then it got complicated.

June 19, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Western U.S. indicating public lands that would be for sale under a Senate plan in yellow and green.

Map: Where Senate Republicans Want to Sell Your Public Lands

For public land advocates, the Senate Republicans’ proposal to sell millions of acres of public land in the West is “the biggest fight of their careers.”

June 19, 2025 - Outdoor Life

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 - Honolulu Civil Beat

White and purple sign for Slow Street in San Francisco, California with people crossing crosswalk.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths

Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

July 1 - KQED

Tents inhabited by unhoused people lined up on sidewalk in Los Angeles, California in front of industrial building.

California Homeless Arrests, Citations Spike After Ruling

An investigation reveals that anti-homeless actions increased up to 500% after Grants Pass v. Johnson — even in cities claiming no policy change.

July 1 - Times of San Diego

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.