Palm Springs

Coachella Valley

A Stark Picture of the Climate Gap in the Coachella Valley

In the low desert of Southern California, dwindling water supplies and a lack of infrastructure funding pose major challenges for working-class communities struggling to survive.

September 12, 2021 - ProPublica

Proposed Coachella Valley Rail Project Map

Proposed Rail Project Would Bring Trains from L.A. to Coachella Valley

Riverside County's transportation commission is moving forward with a proposal to bring passenger rail from Los Angeles to Indio.

June 7, 2021 - Urbanize Los Angeles

Desert Fountain

Legislative Attempt to Block Mojave Water Drilling Project Dies

A proposal to drill for water in the Mojave Desert will have an easier path to approval, after a bill requiring Additional environmental review of the project dies int he California State Senate.

September 4, 2018 - The Desert Sun

Desert Farm

An Agrihood Takes Root in Palm Springs

Developer Freehold Communities is planning a suburban farming community in California's Sonora Desert.

October 26, 2017 - Mercury News

Desert Fountain

Water Controversy in the Palm Springs Desert

The city of Los Angeles is weighing in on a proposal to pump groundwater from the desert near Palm Springs.

August 3, 2017 - The Desert Sun

Marilyn Monroe Palm Springs

Op-Ed Blames Planned Development Districts for Development in Palm Springs

A local writer argues that development is putting the unique character of Palm Springs in peril by taking advantage of the city's Planned Development Districts.

June 28, 2016 - The Desert Sun

Saving Modernism in Palm Springs

Palm Springs is seen as a haven for Modernist architecture, but so far no local buildings are on the National Register of Historic Places.

April 19, 2010 - American Institute of Architects

Historic Preservation? No Thanks

Homeowners in Palm Springs are turning the Palm Desert Cultural Preservation Committee down cold, saying they can't afford and don't want the designation.

November 26, 2009 - The Desert Sun (Palm Springs)

Fighting Blight With Art

Palm Springs officials are working to fill the windows of empty storefronts with art and movie posters in order to keep the streetscape feeling lively.

September 20, 2009 - The Los Angeles Times

Palm Springs' Forgotten Historic District

Palm Springs has rediscovered a historic district that's been on the books for 23 years, but has been somehow forgotten until this week. Preservationists see this as a huge win, a way to protect the unique neighborhood and showcase its architecture.

September 12, 2009 - The Desert Sun

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.

Senior Planner

City of Thousand Oaks

Community Development Director

City of Wisconsin Rapids

Professor of Urban Planning

Harvard University Graduate School of Design

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.