Santa Monica

After noting the heated rhetoric that surrounds development in Santa Monica, especially during election season, Jason Islas reveals claims of the city's overdevelopment to be true—if we're talking about cars.

November 5, 2014 - Santa Monica Next

Not to be outdone by West Hollywood, San Francisco's premier gay neighborhood has painted crosswalks on Castro Street in rainbow colors. However, it's only one part of a much bigger streetscape improvement project that involved huge community input.

October 2, 2014 - CBS

A look at how the previous approval of the Hines Bergamont Transit Village project was rescinded after pressure from community activists, by real estate developer and consultant Michael Russell.

June 15, 2014 - UrbDeZine

Santa Monica, California is working to become the first city to develop a first well-being index for its residents. The index will help the city’s government measure and serve citizen happiness.

April 6, 2014 - Fast Co.Exist

Tactical urbanism is transforming cityscapes around the world, but what would it mean to apply a "pop-up" approach to the planning process? A recent project in Santa Monica, CA allowed participants to evaluate public realm improvements in real-time.

November 19, 2013 - Sustainable Cities Collective

With 30 projects totaling nearly 3 million square feet of development in the pipeline, L.A.'s famously laid-back neighbor is in for an intense period of growth. Will new development enhance or alter the city's alluring character?

November 7, 2013 - Los Angeles Times

While Tongva Park's design may not be as bold as what James Corner has demonstrated on other projects or initially envisioned here, we should celebrate its planning, execution, and political sophistication, says Christopher Hawthorne.

August 31, 2013 - Los Angeles Times

Sarah Goodyear describes the greater implications of the carnage caused by a motorist intent on mowing down as many pedestrians as possible on the Venice boardwalk in L.A. on August 03. It wasn't the first time a car caused mayhem in a public space.

August 10, 2013 - The Atlantic Cities

A UCLA master's student and Don Shoup found that Santa Monica, CA's flexible parking requirements have led to significant fiscal and urban form benefits. A sample of parcels showed eight-times more sales tax revenue per sq. ft. than a control group.

July 24, 2013 - Streetsblog L.A.

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

With an "unprecedented" amount of development applications waiting for review, and the impending arrival of light rail linking to downtown L.A., seaside Santa Monica is growing up, literally. Sam Lubell examines the city's "development tsunami."

April 14, 2013 - The Architect's Newspaper

In this supposed progressive paradise, the recent removal of a transportation consultant reveals the conflicting agendas of residents that want to reduce congestion and those who want to build more parking. Then there are those that want both.

March 30, 2013 - LA.Streetsblog

Providence, Rhode Island's vision for improving early childhood literacy has been selected as the winner of the Bloomberg Philanthropies' Mayor's Challenge, a nationwide contest seeking innovative and replicable ideas for improving cities.

March 13, 2013 - The New York Times

Terry Pristin examines two pivotal projects currently under construction in Santa Monica that are poised to reconnect the city's historic civic center to the vibrant, walkable beachfront community.

March 7, 2013 - The New York Times

In today's news of the ironic, and weird, an L.A. car dealer is developing a mixed-use "town center" adjacent to a future light rail station that will be anchored by their auto showrooms. The twist - they want to get people out of their cars.

October 16, 2012 - SantaMonicaPatch

Thanks to new technology embedded in the asphalt, the days of left-over meter minutes are gone in this southern CA beach city. Depending on whom you ask, parking is now managed more efficiently or the city is just making more money.

June 20, 2012 - The New York Times - U.S.

March 30, 2012 - Jonathan Nettler

The plan is believed to set a precedent for urban forestry management. It includes a Street Tree Designations component, created in response to one failed attempt to replace non-native palms with other types of trees.

December 15, 2011 - The LookOut News

The Mayors of West Hollywood, Santa Monica, Culver City, and the Vice Mayor of Beverly Hills discuss local redevelopment and planning in the face of state intervention. The conversation centers on politics, projects, transportation, and parking.

September 23, 2011 - The Planning Report

Elly Blue at Grist suggests that a market for independent bookstores could be returning along with a rise in bicycling and walkable neighborhoods.

September 18, 2011 - Grist