Los Angeles
L.A.'s Reuse Ordinance: A Victim of its Own Success
Los Angeles's landmark adaptive reuse ordinance has been credited with helping to spur downtown's dramatic growth over the past decade. However, developers now find it cheaper to build new than reuse the area's historic structures.
Parking Privatization Efforts Not Spreading Smoothly
In the wake of the problem-plagued privatization of Chicago's parking meters in 2008, two WSJ reporters assess conversions (or attempts) in Indianapolis (2010), Pittsburgh, Los Angeles, Cincinnati and New York, as well as what went wrong in Chicago.
How an Honorable Elbow Led to One City's Bicycle Revolution
Before Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa was thrown off his bike by a taxi, shattering his elbow in the process, L.A. was known as "a pathologically unfriendly bike city." Two years later, the city has made incredible strides in building its bike culture.
The Three Keys to Building an Effective Transit Network for L.A.
By comparing the city's density, scale, and distribution of employment nodes to other major cities, Kristin Eberhard makes the case for why and how transit can work in big, dense, polycentric Los Angeles.
Gentrification Pushes Artists out of LA's Arts District
The arts district in downtown Los Angeles is transforming its industrial buildings into trendy boutiques, restaurants and hotels. The concern is that gentrification will drive out low-paid artists who can no longer afford to live there.
Friday Eye Candy: Los Angeles Then and Now
Interactive before and after images taken nearly six decades apart show L.A.'s changing urban landscape.
L.A. Mayoral Candidates Tackle City's Housing Troubles
At a forum held last week, candidates to become L.A.'s next mayor outlined their approaches to tackling the city's most daunting housing challenges - from homelessness to the need for more affordable housing.

How Art Inspires L.A.'s Public Transit Commuters
As the L.A. metro continues to expand, so do opportunities for artists to showcase their art. For transit riders, this adds an important element to their daily journey, making the commuting experience all the more memorable.
L.A. to Increase Parking Requirements...For Bikes, not Cars
This week the L.A. City Council's Planning and Land Use Committee forwarded to the full council a progressive bike parking ordinance that could dramatically change how developers provide parking for both bikes and autos, reports Damien Newton.
How Should L.A. Connect the Valley to the Basin?
For anyone who's tried to commute between the San Fernando Valley and L.A.'s Westside during rush hour, it's clear the existing options just don't work. LA County is now considering six options - from BRT to rail tunnels - to help ease congestion.

After Redevelopment, LA May Consolidate Economic Development Efforts
Now that the powerful Community Redevelopment Agency is dead, Los Angeles is considering consolidating economic development efforts, using new money that flows to the city post-redevelopment.
Should L.A. Pursue Massive Street Repair Bond?
Two L.A. City Council members have floated an ambitious proposal to fund the city's backlog of needed road repairs. At a time when the city is expanding transit, and seeking other tax hikes, should $3 billion in street repairs be a top priority?

Leaked Settlement Shows the Dirty Underbelly of NIMBYism
In case anyone thought that developers were the only bad actors seeking to profit off of contentious projects, confidential settlement terms leaked to Curbed show how local groups abuse the California Environmental Quality Act for dubious gains.
Looking for Lost Angeles
A new exhibit seeks to document the Los Angeles that could have been, had the visionary plans of the past been executed, reports Eric Jaffe.

A Preview of the Year Ahead in U.S. Transit Projects
Dozens of transit expansion projects will start, continue, or complete construction this year across America. Yonah Freemark delivers a thorough rundown of the exciting year ahead in transit construction and makes note of a dark cloud on the horizon.
A Modest Proposal for Protecting L.A.'s Pedestrians
Commentator D.J. Waldie laments the stunning health hazards for L.A.'s pedestrians, and proposes five solutions to make the city safer for those on foot.
Slowly but Surely, L.A. Reclaims Its River
The opening of a half-mile trail along the Los Angeles River, after a decade of funding and construction snags, marks the latest step in the city's effort to reclaim its forsaken river as a public resource.
How Smart Is Smart Parking - And For Whom?
Parking enforcers, not motorists in search of available parking, may be the main beneficiaries of 'smart parking' technology as they have the ability to immediately spot parking spaces where vehicles have overstayed their time limits and by how long.
'Star Apartments' Beget New Universe of Homeless Housing
In Los Angeles, the Skid Row Housing Trust is breaking past precedent by building modular, but vibrant, housing aimed at emulating city-life; giving residents a sense of community, and a new lease on life.
Art Meets Infrastructure in an L.A. Suburb
The design for a new bridge that will carry the extension of LA’s Metro Rail Gold Line over the eastbound lanes of the I-210 Freeway is "energizing" the San Gabriel Valley with its melding of art with infrastructure.
Pagination
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.
Borough of Carlisle
Smith Gee Studio
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)