In addition to a contemporary vision for Downtown, the plan debuts a new approach to zoning that could help transform the entire city.

Los Angeles Planning Director Vince Bertoni and head of the Central City Association BID, Jessica Lall, spoke with The Planning Report about the vision and mechanics underpinning the long-range plan for L.A.'s urban core.
DLTA 2040 is a combined update for two community plans, Central City and Central City North. It also includes integrated, customized new zoning codes—the first implementation of the re:code LA effort to streamline the city's zoning code. "We are providing zoning that treats Downtown as a vital place where we're going to focus much of our activity—like housing and jobs—and allow for the things that are necessary to make that happen," Bertoni says.
Decades of attempts to revitalize Downtown—led on the private-sector side by developers like Geoff Palmer and Tom Gilmore—have paid off in a historic investment and development boom, with a projected population growth of 125,000 new residents over the life of the plan. Now, the task at hand for planners is to guide this growth and exploit the opportunities coming to the fore, including the $1.3 billion LA River revitalization and the $120 billion long-term expansion of Metro rail.
"Downtown is the most transit-accessible location in the county, with the highest concentration of jobs; there’s no better place for new housing and commercial space," says Lall. "But in order to make this work, we need to enhance the quality of life downtown and build the infrastructure to support that growth."
She adds, "The real opportunity of the community plan is to get it right—to show the rest of the city that density is not a scary thing, but can create a vibrant, activated area that people want to live in. LA has all the assets to show what a great urban city looks like."
In addition to covering development, mobility, and housing, the interview includes an insightful exchange on the value of industrial land in the economy of the future.
FULL STORY: 'DTLA 2040' to Recode & Guide Growth for LA City's Urban Core

Planetizen’s Top Planning Books of 2023
The world is changing, and planning with it.

Chicago Red Line Extension Could Transform the South Side
The city’s transit agency is undertaking its biggest expansion ever to finally bring rail to the South Side.

How Paris, Texas Became a ‘Unicorn’ for Rural Transit
A robust coalition of advocates in the town of 25,000 brought together the funding and resources to launch a popular bus service that some residents see as a mobility lifeline—and a social club.

Seattle’s Bike Infrastructure Hamstrings Growth
Design standards that call for minimal road space allocated to bikes are limiting the growth of cycling in the city.

Winter Fun at Los Angeles County Parks
L.A. County is offering a winter edition of its popular and award-winning Parks After Dark program, providing opportunities for residents to come together and have fun in safe and welcoming spaces.

Sacramento Council Approves Upzoning Proposal
If given final approval, the plan would increase the allowable floor area ratio to permit denser housing development in single-family neighborhoods and near transit.
City of Kissimmee - Development Services
City of Kissimmee - Development Services
Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
Park City Municipal Corporation
National Capital Planning Commission
City of Santa Fe, New Mexico
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.