The New Yorker has produced a video comparing the streets of Downtown Los Angeles on either side of a 70-year span of history.
Aimee Custis shares news of a New Yorker video that provides a side-by-side comparison of the streets of Downtown Los Angeles between the 19040s and today.
The tour takes different views of Bunker Hill, mostly while traveling along Grand Avenue, the infamous site of the city's largest acts of urban renewal. City Hall is visible at 0:34 in both frames, and the Frank Gehry-designed Disney Music Hall comes into view in the view of today's L.A. at 0:40. The famous Biltmore Hotel survived the entire 70-year span of this video comparison, as visible at 2:18, and the city's Central Library comes into view on both screens at 2:31. The disruption of the street grid in the intervening years is also documented beginning at 2:59.
Custis, writing for Greater Greater Washington, makes the point that "[w]hile this video is of LA, one can imagine a similar then-and-now for DC."
FULL STORY: Seventy Years of Los Angeles, Then and Now
LA’s Tree Emergency Goes Beyond Vandalism
After a vandal destroyed dozens of downtown LA trees, Mayor Karen Bass vowed to replace them. Days later, she slashed the city’s tree budget.
Los Angeles County Invests in Wildfire Recovery for Parks, Trails, and Open Space
The $4.25 million RESTORE Program supports the recovery of parks, trails, and open spaces damaged by the January 2025 wildfires through targeted grants that promote community healing, wildfire resilience, and equitable access to nature.
Private Donations Propel Early Restoration of Palisades Playground
Los Angeles has secured over $1.3 million in private funding to restore the Pacific Palisades playground months ahead of schedule, creating a modern, accessible space that supports community healing after recent wildfires.
Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.
California Invests Additional $5M in Electric School Buses
The state wants to electrify all of its school bus fleets by 2035.
Austin Launches $2M Homelessness Prevention Fund
A new grant program from the city’s Homeless Strategy Office will fund rental assistance and supportive services.
Alabama School Forestry Initiative Brings Trees to Schoolyards
Trees can improve physical and mental health for students and commnity members.
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.
.jpg){kind=link}
Ada County Highway District
Clanton & Associates, Inc.
Jessamine County Fiscal Court
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service