Los Angeles

Auto Parkit: A Parking Revolution Comes to Urban America

Christopher Alan, founder of Auto Parkit, the only automated parking company in the US competitive with traditional parking, spoke with The Planning Report about how his experience as a real estate developer in LA led to a parking opportunity.

June 6, 2013 - The Planning Report

L.A. Plays Catch-Up to Big City Brethren With Debut of Bus-Only Lanes

One of Los Angeles's most congested corridors may have gotten a bit more congested this week - for autos that is - as the first segment of an eventual 12.5 miles of bus only lanes opened along Wilshire Boulevard.

June 6, 2013 - Los Angeles Times

Bypassing L.A.'s Fixation on Cars

In two new exhibits on Los Angeles's modern architectural history - part of the sprawling Pacific Standard Time Presents initiative - the city's infamous infatuation with the automobile is examined and then left behind in the rear-view mirror.

June 3, 2013 - LA Weekly

Removing the Obstacles to Infilling Los Angeles

City leaders from the Mayor on down recognize that infill development is necessary to create a more livable Los Angeles. So why does the public sector allow so many obstacles to stand in the way of small-scale development?

June 1, 2013 - The Architect's Newspaper

Is Frank Gehry Turning His Back on L.A. Architects?

Frank Gehry's "selfish" withdrawal from a planned exhibition on contemporary architecture in Los Angeles, part of a citywide reflection on the discipline's recent history, threatens to derail a debate the city "desperately needs", says Sam Lubell.

May 31, 2013 - The Architect's Newspaper

Pedicabs Pick Up Speed in Southern California

After decades of false starts and resistance, Southern California communities are building on their expanding cycling infrastructure by embracing pedicabs as part of their growing mix of transportation alternatives.

May 28, 2013 - Los Angeles Times

La City Hall Cycling

Will New Mayor Seize the Opportunity to Build a 'Truly Urban' L.A.?

The new mayor of Los Angeles is young, charismatic, and a champion of urbanism and smart growth. He should start using all these assets immediately to transform Los Angeles into the vibrant, transit-oriented city it can become, says Bill Fulton.

May 22, 2013 - California Planning & Development Report

High Above Hollywood, Buying Into the Glamour Without the Grittiness of the Boulevard

With new luxury high-rises sprouting in a densifying Hollywood, and many more on the way, those hawking penthouses priced between $1-$45 million play up the unique amenities and play down the messy reality of a changing neighborhood.

May 21, 2013 - Los Angeles Times

Environmental and Transportation Challenges Await New L.A. Mayor

Whoever is victorious in today's election to choose L.A.'s next mayor, the celebrating may be short lived. Pressing needs to strengthen the city's water supply, maintain transit momentum, and relieve toxic hotspots await the city's next leader.

May 21, 2013 - KPCC

Frightful City Ranking of the Week: Most Dog Attacks

Who else but the U.S. Postal Service would be able to rank America's worst cities for dog attacks? Just in time for National Dog Bite Prevention Week, the USPS has released the "Fiscal Year 2012 U.S. Postal Service Dog Attack City Ranking."

May 18, 2013 - The Atlantic Cities

Court Ruling Imperils Los Angeles BIDs

The Arts District Business Improvement District in downtown Los Angeles was recently ordered to dissolve by a Superior Court judge for providing dubious economic development services. Other area BIDs fear the ruling could threaten their operations.

May 17, 2013 - Los Angeles Downtown News

Civic Leaders Offer Advice to the Next Mayor of Los Angeles

Stepping away from campaign rhetoric, what must the next mayor focus on to ensure a healthy and sustainable future for the largest city on the West Coast? Civic, business, labor, and intellectual readers offer advice to the next Mayor of Los Angeles.

May 15, 2013 - The Planning Report

Rejoicing in L.A.'s Walkable Heritage

The Big Parade, an annual event organized by writer Dan Koeppel, utilizes Los Angeles's historic public staircases as the setting to educate and entertain Angelenos, while building a sense of community.

May 14, 2013 - The Atlantic Cities

Could L.A. Mayoral Candidate's Smart Growth Advocacy Cost Him the Election?

As L.A.'s mayor race enters its final week, polls suggest the two candidates are essentially tied. While there isn't much space between them philosophically, Eric Garcetti has supported density around transit, a position many find objectionable.

May 13, 2013 - Los Angeles Times

My LA2050 Winners Will Transform Abandoned Places into Usable Spaces

One theme unites the winners of the My LA2050 competition: a desire to reinvigorate Los Angeles’s vacant and underused spaces.

May 12, 2013 - Curbed LA

L.A. Surprising History of Transit Innovation

In recent years, Los Angeles has embraced mass transit as a solution to the city's legendary traffic woes. This embrace has historical precedent, however, says Sam Lubell, who examines six of L.A.'s unbuilt proposals for transit systems.

May 11, 2013 - Good

L.A. Planning Director Makes Case for Merging Planning & Permitting

Michael LoGrande, Director of the L.A. Department of City Planning, discusses plans to merge his department with the L.A. Department of Building and Safety to approach the planning and development process from a more holistic and efficient angle.

May 10, 2013 - The Planning Report

What's in a Name? Los Angeles Embraces Its Hispanic Heritage

As Midwesterners flocked to Southern California in the first decades of the last century, place names associated with the region's Spanish settlers were anglicized. A return to proper pronunciations reflects the area's changing demographics.

May 8, 2013 - Los Angeles Times

California Cycleway

L.A.'s Cycling Superhighway: 115 Years Ahead of Its Time

Brian Merchant explores the fascinating history of the California Cycleway, a dedicated bicycling superhighway that was partially constructed beginning in 1897 between Pasadena and downtown Los Angeles.

May 7, 2013 - Motherboard

The Bumpy Route to L.A. Road Repair

Ben Poston investigates Los Angeles's "60-year backlog of failed streets." A strategy designed to pave over the disparities between council districts means that the most damaged of the city's 6,500 miles of paved roadway get fixed last.

May 6, 2013 - Los Angeles Times

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.

Senior Manager Operations, Urban Planning

New York City School Construction Authority

Building Inspector

Village of Glen Ellyn

Manager of Model Development

Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.