California
Santa Monica to Plan for a Freeway Cap Where the I-10 Meets the Pacific Coast
The terminus of the I-10 freeway is a 7,000-foot concrete trench across the heart of Santa Monica. The city's new downtown plan calls for a cap, and a new master plan will hammer out specifics.
Mapping All the Transit Corridors Targeted for Upzoning Under California's SB 827
SB 827, announced last week by California State Senator Scott Wiener, would revoke density maximums, parking minimums, and set permissive height limits along transit corridors all over the state.
What's a Climate Action Plan if it Has No Teeth?
The city of Pasadena has released its draft Climate Action Plan, but how will the city achieve an 83 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions if the plan sets no mandates?
Marin County's Resistance to Growth is Keeping Housing Prices High
The median home value in Marin County is well over a million dollars, thanks in part to the county and its residents keeping low income housing and development out.
The State of San Francisco
One of the most astute observers of San Francisco provides a list of notable architecture project to locate the city amidst all its ongoing controversies and challenges.
Despite Bipartisan Opposition, Trump Administration Opens Offshore Oil and Gas Drilling
In a major blow to former President Obama's restrictions on offshore drilling in sensitive areas, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke announced that he would open the Outer Continental Shelf in four regions: Pacific, Arctic, Atlantic, and the Gulf Coast.
Coming to L.A. Transit in 2018: Smartphone Fare Payment
Los Angeles is planning to join the ranks of cities that will allow transit fare payment by smartphone app. The scope of benefits offered by app-based fare payment is still under development.
Lessons Two and Three From the California Fires
The second and third parts in resiliency expert Dave Hampton's 3-part series on what the California fires teach us about preparing for climate change.
Distressed Suburbs Struggle to Recover From Decade-Old Recession
Located primarily in the western states, some suburbs were hit hard by the 2008 recession and still haven't recovered. Many have seen an influx of low-income residents and upticks in crime.
Welcome to the Electric Vehicle Charging Station of the Future
But only if you drive a Tesla. Unlike a traditional "fill-up," charging an EV takes time—30 minutes for Tesla Superchargers—so Tesla provides an exclusive lounge for its customers at a new 40-Supercharger "rest stop" on I-5 in California.
How the West Got Bigger, Badder Fires
Two new books chronicle the origin of U.S. policy on wildfire, the damage that policy has done, and why it’s unlikely to change any time soon.
Aggressive New 'Housing-First Policy' Proposed in California State Legislature
California State Senator Scott Wiener has established himself as one of the most ardent supporters of pro-housing policy in the state. His announcement this morning continued the theme.
More on those Freeway-Adjacent Affordable Housing Developments
The Los Angeles Times follows-up an earlier article on the dangers of building too close to freeways. It's a trade-off that the California Air Resources Board acknowledged last April with new guidelines that recognize the dire need for housing.
San Francisco Supervisors Cool to Express Lanes on City's Freeways
The county agency that had hoped to do downtown cordon pricing now wants to add express lanes on Highways 101 and 280, but city supervisors are divided on charging solo drivers the option to buy into managed lanes. Both freeways lack carpool lanes.
John Portman, Who Designed Skyline Icons and Infamous Interiors, Dies at 93
John Portman, an exemplar of post-modern architecture around the world, died on December 29, 2017.
After the Drought, San Diego Faces Lead and Sewage
In 2017, the Southern California city no longer had to be concerned about water quantity, but was plagued by issues of water quality.
The Landlord's Case for Stronger Rent Control
A small San Francisco landlord argues for repealing state restrictions on rent control.
Sunnyvale Rejects Bus Rapid Transit Pitch
The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority is pitching local governments on the idea of restricting lanes for use by buses during peak hours on a major inter-city thoroughfare. One city, at least, doesn't like the idea.
California Program Promotes Multifamily Rooftop Solar
The state's SOMAH program, now finalized, provides rebates to multifamily affordable housing developments that use solar, and lets tenants share in the benefits.
Three Housing Stories to Watch in California
California's housing crunch finally became a top legislative priority in 2017. More of the same is expected in 2018.
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.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS)
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
City of Cambridge
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
