Los Angeles

With victories in Beverly Hills, and a notable defeat in nearby Palos Verdes Estates, Alexei Barrionuevo tracks historic preservation's shifting place in Los Angeles.

May 13, 2012 - The New York Times

So you think cars are to blame for L.A.'s air pollution problems? That might be bull excrement, literally, reports David Biello.

May 11, 2012 - Scientific American

As a number of luxury high-rise condo buildings struggle to sell their units, Alexei Barrionuevo looks at the difficulty of selling a high-density lifestyle in a city "where the seriously wealthy overwhelmingly prefer living in extravagant estates."

May 7, 2012 - The New York Times

Josh Stephens describes the fierce battle raging between Beverly Hills and Metro, the region's transportation authority, over the proposed route of the long-planned westward subway extension.

May 6, 2012 - Next American City

The seven largest metros in the nation are teaming up to unify the technologies that are revolutionizing life in the city, Steve Towns reports.

May 2, 2012 - Governing

A bribery scandal recently uncovered by The New York Times is undoing years of hard work the retailer has engaged in to "polish its reputation and give elected officials, community groups and shoppers a reason to say yes to their stores."

May 1, 2012 - The New York Times

Nate Berg explores how the excitement of establishing urban farms and gardens tends to evaporate when the hard work sets in. He profiles one entrepreneur who's trying to fill the gap in dedication and knowledge.

April 30, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

The opening of L.A.'s newest rail line on Saturday, nearly two years behind schedule and almost $300 million over budget, brought hope, and a dash of fear, for the city's residents, reports Ari Bloomekatz.

April 30, 2012 - Los Angeles Times

Alissa Walker celebrates a historic day for rail transit in Los Angeles, as the $940 million, 8.6-mile first segment of the Expo Line opens to the public, leading the city "into a new transit era."

April 28, 2012 - The Architect's Newspaper

Sam Lubell reports on the speculative visions unveiled this week by six teams of international design talent competing to develop a Master Plan for LA's historic Union Station and its surrounding properties.

April 27, 2012 - The Architect's Newspaper

Like the rare Corpse flower that blooms every several years, the Los Angeles chapter of the American Institute of Architects is planning to publish yet a new magazine exploring and extolling local design, how it impacts “our everyday life,” and “who architects are as people.”  Such an effort at such a time deserves notice.

April 27, 2012 - Sam Hall Kaplan

James Brasuell celebrates the perseverance of one of LA's "most important urban projects," the remaking of Figueroa Boulevard, one of the city's major spines, linking downtown to the campus of the University of Southern California.

April 25, 2012 - The Architect's Newspaper

In April 1992, L.A. erupted in a torrent of burning, looting, and rioting following the acquittal of three police officers charged in the beating of Rodney King. Josh Sides looks at how the city responded to those events and how it's changed since.

April 22, 2012 - Places

Brittany Kubinski and Jennifer Evans-Cowley turn to twitter for a detailed analysis of the trends that emerged from this year's APA national conference, and for a comparison to last year's popular topics.

April 21, 2012 - PlanningTech

As bike share systems spread across the country, Danielle Kurtzleben looks at their profitability, or lack thereof, and asks whether cash-strapped cities or the federal government will want to sink money into systems that struggle to break even.

April 21, 2012 - U.S. News & World Report

Alissa Walker sheds light on the programs and institutions pushing Angelenos to change their commuting behaviors in an effort to recoup some of the 485 million wasted hours that cost the region more than $10 billion annually due to congestion.

April 21, 2012 - Good

Stymied by multiple attempts to leverage one of his key political victories as mayor - the passage of a half-cent tax increase to fund transit in LA - Villaraigosa announced another bid to speed up the expansion of the region's mass transit system.

April 20, 2012 - Los Angeles Times

Renée Jones-Bos, Ambassador of the Netherlands to the United States, spoke about water, infrastructure, planning, ports, and cost-benefit analysis as the closing keynote speaker at the 2012 APA National Convention in Los Angeles.

April 19, 2012 - The Planning Report

Louis Sagahun explores the unexpected benefits of trading 5,000 square feet of grass and pavement for native plants at a Los Angeles elementary school.

April 18, 2012 - Los Angeles Times

As the APA national conference draws to a close after four days of connecting, collaborating, and conversing, another c-word has been running through my head -- change. Of course, introducing and disseminating change is the currency of such conferences, where sessions are intended to facilitate professional development and transition by introducing attendees to the progressive practices and policies being spearheaded across the professional world. I mean, why else would we attend such events? Surely not only for the raucous opening night party, right? Right??  However, it seems there was more than the usual dose of change in the air during this year's proceedings.

April 17, 2012 - Jonathan Nettler