UrbDeZine
2020 Conferences in Planning and Design
An annual sampling of some of the best professional development conferences in the coming year for planning and design professions, by L.A. County Planner Clement Lau.
Ode to Third Places
Urban strategist Michele Reeves writes about the of third places importance in the urban fabric.
'Urban Green Spaces': A Book for Planners and Laypeople
"Urban Green Spaces" is informative, even for practitioners, and a good read, according to a book review by L.A. County park planner Clement Lau.
Berlin's Transit Future Just Got Even Brighter
Berlin is committing to a huge investment in its public transit infrastructure. Kiwi-living-in-Berlin author and lawyer Leah Hamilton writes about it.
Wild LA: An Excellent and Beautifully Illustrated Resource for L.A.’s Biodiversity
Los Angeled has plenty of urban wildlife, but people don’t usually associate the city with the term biodiversity. L.A. County park planner Clement Lau offers a book review on the a book on that subject, "Wild LA."
Mobile Parks and Recreation Fill a Need
Several cities are using mobile park and recreation services to augment existing parks and fill gaps in parks. LA County parks planner Clement Lau describes a sampling of mobile programs.
Are U.S. Homeless Worse Off Than India's Poor?
In photographs and written observations of a recent trip to Mumbai, India, former SPUR Director Jim Chappell queries how the lives of the poorest people there compare to the lives of low-income Americans.
Embedded Planning Movement Gains Traction
Jonathan Pacheco Bell chronicles the growth of a movement he created.
A 'Walk in the Park' Needs a 'Walk to the Park'
Several strategies and initiatives seek to make parks more accessible on foot in the county of Los Angeles. Clement Lau, an L.A. County planner, summarizes a few of these strategies and initiatives.
How to Treat Nature Deficit Disorder in L.A. Without Getting on a Freeway
Los Angeles is surrounded by beautiful nature in the form of hills, mountains, beaches, and deserts, but its notorious traffic can make it hell to get there. L.A. County Park Planner Clement Lau describes his favorite nearby nature doses.
How to Integrate Light Rail and Bus Rapid Transit for Walkability and Housing
Better integration between San Diego's various transit modes—trolley (light rail), bus, bus rapid transit, and active transit—are key to increasing use and housing options, argues AVRP planner Howard Blackson III.
Thoughts on California's Housing Strategy
Balance between state and local control and between private and public solutions are necessary for meaningful improvement in housing affordability, according to planning activist and affordable housing developer Murtaza Baxamusa.
2018 Presents for Plannerds: The Gifts of Parks
In his sixth annual list of gift ideas for “plannerds,” park plan-nerd Clement Lau takes a different approach.
A Peek into Gensler's Creativity Boosting Workshop
A recent Gensler workshop to brainstorm the design process reaffirms the importance of design charrettes, idea sharing, or brainstorming for every project, writes San Diego Gensler Design Director Marin Gertler.
2019 Conferences in Planning and Design
An annual sampling of professional development conferences in the coming year for planning and design professionals, by L.A. County Planner Clement Lau.
New Book Studies 20 Examples of Adaptive Reuse
A new book on adaptive reuse of industrial buildings is reviewed by Carol Berens.
Five Key Data Sources for Park Planning
Park planner Clement Lau discusses five (plus one in Los Angeles) key data sources for parks and recreation planning.
Community Benefit Agreements Help University Expansions Benefit Everyone
From USC to Columbia University, "town and gown" collaborations regarding university expansion have proven to benefit all parties, writes planning activist and affordable housing developer Murtaza Baxamusa.
San Diego Called Out for Section 8 Housing Discrimination
San Diego was identified for its failure to enact a Section 8 housing discrimination ordinance in a recent American Bar Association article. Poverty law attorney Parisa Ijadi-Maghsoodi explains the situation.
Newly Minted St. Louis Gateway Arch National Park Reviewed
The recently revitalized and designated as a National Park St. Louis Gateway Arch National Park is described by park planner Clement Lau.
Pagination
City of Yakima
City of Auburn
Baylands Development Inc.
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Birmingham, Alabama
City of Laramie, Wyoming
Colorado Department of Local Affairs
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.