California

San Francisco Skyline

San Francisco-ization, a City's Biggest Nightmare

Cities spend a lot of time and energy pointing to examples of what they don’t want to become.

January 2, 2019 - The New York Times

California Wildfire

Wildfires Threaten Over a Million California Structures in High-Risk Areas

With limited action at the state level, communities in vulnerable areas have launched their own local preparedness programs and plans.

December 31, 2018 - The Los Angeles Times

South Bay Area

California Prepares for a Prop. 13 Showdown

Expect property tax reform to be in the news in 2019.

December 29, 2018 - San Francisco Chronicle

Hotel California

California Population Growth Continues to Slow

The latest demographic data released Friday by the state's demographic unit shows shows an increase of 0.54 percent, one of the lowest on record, as birth rates drop, death rates increase, and more people leave the state than arrive from others.

December 28, 2018 - California Department of Finance

San Francisco Muni Buses

In Cities, Transit Isn’t Just for Commuting

A closer look at commuting and ridership shows the differences between urban and suburban transit patterns.

December 28, 2018 - Pedestrian Observations

Guggenheim Museum

8 Frank Lloyd Wright Buildings Nominated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites

If accepted as UNESCO World Heritage sites, the eight Frank Lloyd Wright buildings would be the first examples of modern architecture in the United States included in that august company.

December 27, 2018 - Curbed

The Mission

Critiquing the Notion of Neighborhood Character

Zócalo Public Square Editor Joe Mathews takes aim at the phrase, “We want to protect the character of the community," calling it a lousy argument in normal times and verging on "treasonous" due to climate change and California's housing crisis.

December 27, 2018 - San Francisco Chronicle

Indoor Grow Room

California Pot Farms Stink (Literally), Say Neighbors

Officials overseeing cannabis implementation are having to deal with residents’ complaints that the smell from marijuana operations is overwhelming.

December 26, 2018 - The New York Times

Solar and Wind Energy

Op-Ed: Cities Leading the Charge to 100 Percent Clean Energy

Four mayors hammer home the point that moving to 100 percent clean energy on the municipal level is environmentally, economically, and politically desirable.

December 26, 2018 - Next City

San Francisco

Property Owner Who Tore Down Neutra-Designed House Ordered to Build Exact Replica

This was not a case of "it's better to ask forgiveness than permission."

December 21, 2018 - San Francisco Chronicle

San Francisco

San Francisco Sets the Parking Reform Bar High

The city of San Francisco became the largest city to end minimum parking requirements through the city earlier this month.

December 21, 2018 - Streetsblog USA

Hollywood, Los Angeles

Two Signs of Approval Process Failure Finally to Proceed in Los Angeles

Neighborhood groups blocked the construction and completion of a Target-anchored retail complex and a 22-story residential high rise for years. Developers and the city have finally moved forward.

December 21, 2018 - Urbanize.LA

Malibu Zuma Beach

YourCoast App Will Make California's Public Beaches More Accessible

The app, developed by tech mogul Sean Parker (of Napster and Facebook fame), brings technology and environmental regulation together to give people the information they need to get to public beaches.

December 20, 2018 - Los Angeles Times

Butte County, California

Rebuilding Paradise: Time to Consider Sewers

Paradise is the largest incorporated city west of the Mississippi River lacking a public sewer system. The town of of 27,000 relies on septic systems, now potentially damaged. Without sewers, multi-family housing construction becomes more difficult.

December 20, 2018 - San Francisco Chronicle

New York Subway

Opinion: Good Public Transit Is Crowded

Embrace the crowds.

December 20, 2018 - Medium

San Francisco Parklet

West Hollywood Pilots Pop-Up Walkability Improvements

Six-month pilot projects along the Sunset Strip include a parklet and painted sidewalk extensions by a street artist.

December 19, 2018 - Wehoville

Home Sold Sign

Zillow to Start Flipping Homes in California

Tech companies that use algorithms to make rapid offers on a large scale are growing players in the U.S. housing market.

December 19, 2018 - Los Angeles Times

The Boring Company

Early Reviews of Elon Musk's Boring Co. Tunnel

Take a tour of Elon Musk's idea for fixing Los Angeles congestion.

December 19, 2018 - Los Angeles Times

Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta

California Delta Project Facing Approval Challenges

The plan to update the state’s water system has hit a major snag.

December 18, 2018 - San Francisco Chronicle

Electric Bus

California Orders All Electric Buses by 2040

Converting all the public transit buses in California would save reduce carbon emissions in the state by 1 million metric tons by 2040.

December 18, 2018 - San Francisco Chronicle

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.