California

Dolores Park

Opinion: Pricey Dorms Aren't the Problem with San Francisco

It's easy to make fun of expensive “adult dorms,” but in a San Francisco property market with few options beyond single-family homes, other living options should be welcomed

March 13, 2018 - Slate

San Diego Merchants Call for Halt to Dockless Bikeshare Operations

Public bikeshare arrived in San Diego in 2014. Last month, three companies unleashed thousands of dockless bikes, cluttering sidewalks in three business districts to the chagrin of merchants who want a time-out so the city can develop regulations.

March 12, 2018 - The San Diego Union-Tribune

Los Angeles Grand Park

From Architecture Critic to 'Chief Design Officer'

Christopher Hawthorne, the Los Angeles Time architecture critic whose broad role at the paper included much needed focus on streets and the public realm, has announced that he will be joining the staff at City Hall.

March 12, 2018 - Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Skyline with houses

California Spends $6.5 Billion on Homeowner Subsidies, 15 Times Less on Renters

A new report from the California Housing Partnership "revealed a wide gap between state support for homeowners and renters."

March 12, 2018 - Los Angeles Times

Lyft

Multiple Studies Find Ride-Hailing Contributes to Congestion and Transit Losses

Surveys on ride-hailing conducted by regional planning agencies, academic institutions, and public transit agencies throughout the U.S. reviewed by the Associated Press largely led to the same conclusion: more traffic and reduced use of transit.

March 9, 2018 - Associated Press

Erskine Fire

In California, Policies Spur Rebuilding in the Wildland-Urban Interface

After the worst wildfire season ever, changes to local land use and state insurance rules essentially ensure that the same thing will happen again.

March 9, 2018 - Bloomberg BusinessWeek

Metro Gold LIne

L.A.'s Mayor Garcetti Sides With Single-Family Housing Near Transit

Politicians are taking positions on a controversial California housing bill to densify by transit. Even after amendments were accepted on March 1 in response to concerns about displacement and demolitions, the mayor of Los Angeles remains opposed.

March 9, 2018 - The Architect's Newspaper

Los Angeles Earthquake

Los Angeles Resiliency Strategy Looks Beyond 'The Big One'

Renewable energy, sea-level rise, and, of course, seismic safety are all part of the plan.

March 8, 2018 - Next City

Arlington, Texas

Arlington, Texas Replaces Public Transit with Ride-Share

Arlington is the first large city in the nation to ditch public transit for a private ride-sharing service. A pilot program operated by Via Transportation has operated successfully since launching service in December, charging riders $3.

March 7, 2018 - CBS This Morning

Concrete Stormwater

Analysis: Trump's Infrastructure Plan Would Cost Municipalities Money

Adam Krantz, who leads the National Association of Clean Water Agencies, breaks down how the Trump Administration infrastructure plan would impact local water infrastructure.

March 7, 2018 - The Planning Report

Oil Pump in Los Angeles

Study: L.A. County's Urban Oil Wells Are Too Close to Homes and Schools

The Department of Public Health recommends taking action to better protect residents from oil operations that are sometimes only a few feet from where people live, work, eat, play and study.

March 7, 2018 - KPCC

BART Station

Bill Would Force Locals to Follow BART's Plans for Station-Adjacent Development

Another bill under consideration by the California State Legislature would take land use control away from local agencies near transit stations. In this case, the new authority would be regional.

March 6, 2018 - The Mercury News

Los Angeles

Op-Ed: Transit-Oriented Development Must Protect Tenants

It's time for planners to contend with displacement by transit investment, writes Tracy Jeanne Rosenthal.

March 6, 2018 - Los Angeles Times

Highway Speed

California Bill Sets Its Sights on Lower Speed Limits

A proposed bill in the California State Assembly would make it easier for local jurisdictions to set lower speed limits, sidestepping the controversial 85th percentile rule.

March 6, 2018 - Streetsblog California

California State Capital

Amendments Proposed for California's Landmark Pro-Housing Development Legislation

Amendments are circulating for one of the most-closely watched, and passionately debated, pieces of housing legislation in the country.

March 5, 2018 - Medium

For Rent

The 7 Myths of Rent Control

The public perception of rent control has been dominated by apartment owner-funded studies and messaging for decades, fostering misconceptions about it's impact, according to poverty law attorney Parisa Ijadi-Maghsoodi.

March 4, 2018 - UrbDeZine

Jerry Brown

California Housing Battles Pit Older Liberals Against Younger Progressives

It's the old left, many home-owning seniors, against the younger left, many renter millennials when it comes to housing, according to an NBC report that looks at the local political dynamics underpinning the expensive California housing market.

March 4, 2018 - NBC News

Leaving California

California Has Been Shedding Residents—For Decades

The state Legislative Analyst's Office looks at California's out-migration data. Every year since 1990, more Californians left for other than states than arrive. Which states are sending their residents here, and where are Californians fleeing to?

March 3, 2018 - California Legislative Analyst's Office

San Luis Obispo County

California's Coastal Marshes Face Extinction By 2110

Climate change and coastal development are combining to stamp out important ecological landscapes.

March 2, 2018 - KPCC

California

Debunking the Politics of Progressive NIMBYism

An op-ed raises a damaging point to counter the California-style progressivism that opposes new housing development: "local control is actually bedrock conservatism."

March 2, 2018 - East Bay Express

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.

Comprehensive Bikeway Design Workshop

Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University

Early Bird Deadline – save on your tuition fee!🚨

Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)

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.