Los Angeles

Transfers, Bus Lanes, and More: What LA Metro Isn't Doing to Attract Riders

Columnist David Lazarus looks at how L.A. Metro could increase transit usage, in the wake of reports showing how expensive it is to drive instead.

March 24, 2010 - The Los Angeles Times

Judaism and Food Deserts

Jewish groups in Los Angeles are taking on the lack of healthy groceries in certain parts of the city, the so-called "food deserts" of LA.

March 22, 2010 - The Los Angeles Times

L.A. Transit: Up a Hill and Out to the Sea

The historic Angel's Flight funicular reopened yesterday, as Mayor Villaraigosa announces his vision to transform Los Angeles' transit system in 10 years.

March 16, 2010 - True/Slant

Arrest Made as L.A. Cracks Down on Illegal Billboards

In an unprecedented move, L.A. City Attorney Carmen Trutanich has placed a business owner under arrest for posting an illegal "supergraphic" billboard.

March 1, 2010 - The Los Angeles Times

Infamous Watts Public Housing, Reimagined

The Jordan Downs public housing complex in Watts, California is a perfect example of the failed projects of built mid-century. A new proposal would tear down the towers in favor of a mix of building styles connecting to the surrounding area.

February 21, 2010 - The Architect's Newspaper

Hollywood Sign Edited in the Name of Preservation

With the threat of its sale bringing the prospect of hilltop housing development behind the city's most well-known icon, the hills near the Hollywood sign in L.A. have spurred local activists to drape a new anti-development message over the sign.

February 15, 2010 - The New York Times

Preservation Win as Century Plaza Hotel Saved

The developers that purchased L.A.'s Century Plaza Hotel, a swooping mid-century building, planned to raze it and start over. Preservationists fought back, and a new plan has been announced to preserve a significant section of it.

February 11, 2010 - Los Angeles Times

L.A. to Extend Light Rail

Transportation officials in Los Angeles have approved the extension of one of the city's light rail lines out to Santa Monica. The new 7-mile link will connect the oceanside town to downtown L.A.

February 7, 2010 - Los Angeles Times

Creating Bicycle Corridors

This post from GOOD looks at how a street can become a bicycle corridor.

February 3, 2010 - Good

An Experiment of Luxury and Urban Utility

A new luxury hotel with subway access on the ground floor has opened in L.A., creating what Los Angeles Times architecture critic Christopher Hawthorne sees as a bizarre mix of vanity and transit.

February 1, 2010 - Los Angeles Times

An Oasis of Safety in One of L.A.'s Toughest Neighborhoods

In the midst of a dangerous and crime-prone area, one small section of L.A.'s South central neighborhood has retained a lower-than-average homicide rate and higher-than-average property values.

January 27, 2010 - Los Angeles Times

Narrowing Streets to Create Parkspace in L.A.

Planners in Los Angeles are considering a plan to remove two lanes of a strip of downtown street to create parkspace for the formerly light-industrial area's growing populations.

January 13, 2010 - Los Angeles Times

Urban Planning in Los Angeles, 2009

Curbed LA takes an amusing look at the urban planning proposals that bubbled up in L.A. throughout 2009.

January 3, 2010 - Curbed LA

L.A.'s Biggest Development Blunders

Los Angeles Downtown News picks the 10 Biggest Problem Projects of the Decade, including the still empty Hall of Justice and the languishing Angel's Flight.

December 21, 2009 - Los Angeles Downtown News

Is Marketing the Key to Transit Success?

Los Angeles County's transit agency has increased its marketing efforts in recent years. This piece from The City Fix suggests the push has been an effective tool and that other transit agencies should take note.

December 11, 2009 - The City Fix

Two Options for L.A. High Speed Rail Station

High speed rail is slowly transitioning from idea to reality in California, and one of its major stops will be in Los Angeles. But exactly where in Los Angeles remains an unanswered question.

December 5, 2009 - Los Angeles Times

Cycling and Road Rage in Los Angeles

This report from NPR's All Things Considered examines some of the dangers of cycling in Los Angeles, with special attention given to the case of the doctor who nearly killed two cyclists.

December 4, 2009 - All Things Considered

Historic Redevelopment, Economic Preservation?

This Saturday, Nate Berg and I will be taking part in LA 2.0: Refresh, Reinvent, Re-Imagine, an event hosted by GOOD Magazine, Sheridan/Hawkes Collaborative and The Public Studio.  The goal is to brainstorm innovative solutions to improve the physical environment of Los Angeles.

December 1, 2009 - Tim Halbur

Denser Neighborhoods Could Save Bay Area $31 Billion

Walkable, transit-accessible neighborhoods do more than just lower greenhouse gas emissions of their residents - they save them money too, states a new report, "Windfall for All", from the Bay Area's TransForm, a coalition of over 100 non-profits.

November 23, 2009 - Sacramento Business Journal

LA's Newest Rail Meets Skepticism

The Gold Line extension served 75,000 riders for its grand opening, but ridership dropped by over two-thirds for its first weekday operations.

November 18, 2009 - 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.