California
San Francisco's Running Out of Room for Cars
In terms of land area, San Francisco’s a small city. Yet if current policies persist, the city will build 92,000 parking spots for residents by 2040, on just 49 square miles of land.
Yosemite Plan Rescinds Proposed Ban on Bike, Raft Rentals
Yosemite National Park officials released a revised draft of the Merced River Plan. An earlier of the controversial plan would have restricted recreation and removed swimming pools from the national park's famed hotels.
CA High Speed Rail Chugs Along—New Business Plan Released
Despite numerous legal and legislative setbacks in the last few months, the California High Speed Rail Authority has released a new business plan—the first update of the controversial plan since 2012.
Obama Picks Up the Resilience Buzz with $1 Billion Fund Proposal
President Obama is in California today to pitch a $1 billion “resilience fund” to help communities dealing with the weather impacts of climate change—including the state’s current drought.
College Campuses as Multi-Modal Models for Cities
A new report argues that city governments have some of the same incentives for de-emphasizing single-occupant commuters as colleges—such as attracting younger workers and freeing up land used for parking.
Upwardly Mobile Latinos and 'Gente-fication'
Around the country, highly educated, upwardly mobile Latinos are choosing urban settings in traditionally Latino neighborhoods over the suburbs. The effects of "gente-fication" ("gente" is Spanish for "people") are distinct from gentrification.
Will Skyrocketing Rents Evict the Arts and Non-Profits in S.F.?
It's not just residents who are suffering the country's highest rents. Non profits are suffering too. However, some are displaying adaptability and creativity in dealing with high rents, notes consultant David Prowler.
Google's Next Futuristic Setting: A Giant NASA Hangar in Mountain View
Google buses, Google ferries, and now, a Google hangar.
Bad News Bay Bridge: Leaking, Possibly Corroding
The eastern span of the Bay Bridge has had cost overruns, delays, scandal, and lukewarm architecture reviews, but the latest bad news is cause for concern—the bridge is leaking into structural elements and officials aren’t sure why or what it means.
If You Like Donuts (and Preservation), You'll Like this Story
This is not our first story on preserving a huge donut sign. What makes this one special is that it's as much about Long Beach as it is about preservation. And what makes it ironic is whom they had to fight to keep the donut from being torn down!
"Stop Mass Immigration" Referendum Passes In Switzerland
The vote to approve restrictions on immigration passed narrowly with 50.3 percent of the vote. The main repercussion may be how it impacts trading with its neighbors in the EU as immigration quotas may invalidate a 1999 treaty allowing free movement.
Recession Surprise—Net Migration Still Favors the Inland Empire Over Los Angeles
The Inland Empire—suburban and exurban counties located to the east of Los Angeles—experienced some of the worst impacts of the housing crisis and recession. Yet, people still arrived there in droves during the recession.
Imagining Silicon Valley Parking Lots as Corporate Housing
A series of renderings asks the question: "What might it look like if tech campuses replaced their parking lots and provided all the necessary housing on-site?"
What you missed, or not, at the 2014 Land Use Law & Planning Conference
Weren't able to make it to this year's UCLA Extension Land Use Law & Planning Conference? No Problem! Los Angeles County Planner Dr. Clement Lau gives a quick recap . . . but mostly on the planning side of the program.
San Francisco Planners Pitch Freeway Removal
Planners in the city of San Francisco have a proposed a $1.4 million study to examine the possibility of removing part of Interstate 280 in the city and convert a rail yard would yield 37 acres of prime urban real estate.
Starfish Are Mysteriously Dying by the ‘Tens of Thousands’
Up and down the West Coast, Texas, and in some places on the East Coast, starfish are dying off and washing up on shore in distressing quantities. The so-called "sea star wasting syndrome" has also been called a “mass mortality event.”
Ballot Box Zoning Initiative Possible for San Francisco
Proponents of a ballot initiative that would require a vote for any development on the San Francisco waterfront that exceeds existing height limits have gathered enough signatures to put the issue to a vote.
Public Benefits Not Worth Density to Palo Alto Residents
Palo Alto’s planned community zoning has existed since 1951. As the real estate market in the Silicon Valley heats up, residents are questioning whether developers are abusing the density and height benefits they receive from the zoning code.
Construction Quiz: What will the new Tappan Zee Bridge share with the new Bay Bridge?
What lifts up to 1,750 tons? Goodbye "Left Coast Lifter". Hello "I Lift New York". The massive crane was barged 6,000 miles through the Panama Canal to begin construction of the replacement Tappan Zee Bridge, having completed the Bay Bridge job.
The Dramatic Impact of LED Streetlights on Celluloid
Los Angeles recently completed a comprehensive installation of LED streetlights—and New York City is not far behind. Among the unintended consequences of the new technology? Cities will now look completely different on film.
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.
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont
