Los Angeles County Planner Clement Lau reviews the "No Further West: The Story of Los Angeles Union Station" exhibit, on display at the Central Library.
Los Angeles’ Union Station was born out of controversy and contention.
Clement Lau, a Los Angeles County planner, offers a review of the Central Library’s exhibit “No Further West: The Story of Los Angeles Union Station,” which was organized by the Getty Research Institute (GRI). The development of one of the city’s most noted landmarks involved long, drawn out battles in the community and in the courts, Lau writes, adding that the fight over the location of the station went all the way to the Supreme Court.
“Its location, adjacent to the historic Plaza, or central square of El Pueblo de Los Angeles, resulted in the destruction of the city’s original Chinatown, while also fueling early historic preservation efforts. Its groundbreaking in 1933 only took place after the break-through of decades of red tape, political back-and-forth, and the commissioning of prominent architects John Parkinson and his son, Donald Parkinson.”
Lau goes on to discuss the drawings, photographs, and book that is a part of the exhibit.
FULL STORY: The Story of Union Station in Los Angeles

Florida Considers Legalizing ADUs
Current state law allows — but doesn’t require — cities to permit accessory dwelling units in single-family residential neighborhoods.

Manufactured Crisis: Losing the Nation’s Largest Source of Unsubsidized Affordable Housing
Manufactured housing communities have long been an affordable housing option for millions of people living in the U.S., but that affordability is disappearing rapidly. How did we get here?

Research Shows More Roads = More Driving
A national study shows, once again, that increasing road supply induces additional vehicle travel, particularly over the long run.

EV Chargers Now Outnumber Gas Pumps by Nearly 50% in California
Fast chargers still lag behind amidst rapid growth.

Affordable Housing Renovations Halt Mid-Air Amidst DOGE Clawbacks
HUD may rescind over a billion dollars earmarked for green building upgrades.

Has Anyone at USDOT Read Donald Shoup?
USDOT employees, who are required to go back to the office, will receive free parking at the agency’s D.C. offices — flying in the face of a growing research body that calls for pricing parking at its real value.
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.
City of Moreno Valley
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
City of Piedmont, CA
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
City of Cambridge, Maryland