California
A Call to Protect Cultural Institutions from Urban Renewal
While considering plans for a large urban renewal project in Hollywood, Los Angeles struggles to avoid throwing out the baby with the bathwater—that is, saving a place for small cultural institutions when redeveloping neighborhoods.
Critic's Review: Los Angeles Union Station Master Plan
Christopher Hawthorne details the finalized master plan for Los Angeles' remodel of its historic Union Station, saying the master plan positions the station to be a hub of activity in a remade city.
Court Ruling for Beach-Blocking Billionaire Redeems Public Access
Vinod Khosla, the California billionaire who made news earlier this year for blocking access to a public beach, had his day in court.
The Story Behind the 'Most Vetted Soccer Field in U.S. History'
A simple proposal to replace grass soccer fields with artificial turf, thus doubling the amount of time the fields could be used, has been frozen by the litigation and ballot initiatives of the San Francisco planning process.
Gov. Jerry Brown Touts California's Success at U.N. Climate Summit
Leonardo DiCaprio may have received top billing, but Jerry Brown spoke as well on the actions of the Golden State to combat climate change under his watch. Two days earlier, he signed six bills to increase sales of electric vehicles.
Friday Funny: Missed Opportunities—The Getty Villa Volcano
From the never built files (except this time for good reason): A proposal not endorsed during a 19070s expansion plan for the Getty Villa in the Pacific Palisades was a recreation of Mount Vesuvius.
On the Los Angeles Urbanism Boom
Urban planner and researcher, C.J. Gabbe, shares insights from his past two years living in Los Angeles, including surprising innovations in planning and development.
Database Reveals Bay Area's Parking Waste
A new tool from TransForm shows where parking is underutilized in the Bay Area, even finding wasted space in a city as notorious for parking difficulties as San Francisco.
Protected Bicycle Lanes Now Welcome in California
Thanks to California Gov. Jerry Brown signing San Francisco Assemblyman Phil Ting's "bikeways" bill on Sept. 20, expect to see many more protected bike lanes constructed by cities throughout the state. Another signed bill will increase bike funding.
Where to Go in the Event of Climate Change
Anchorage, Seattle, and Detroit will be pretty cozy compared to just about everywhere else in the United States if climate change models hold true.
San Francisco's Shopping Spree for New Muni Cars
After winning the contract to build All Aboard Florida's locomotives and passenger cars, Siemens Sacramento manufacturing plant landed a $648 million contract much closer to home: Replacement of the San Francisco Muni Metro Breda light rail cars.
Top Ten Car-Independent Neighborhoods
City Clock prepared two lists of neighborhoods with the most commute trips made without cars (for every city BUT New York City). One list ranks university neighborhoods, and the other non-university neighborhoods.
'Droughtshaming' and the Death of Fun
Laura Bliss provides a summary of the controversy surrounding plans to bring the "Slide the City" event to Temple Avenue in Downtown Los Angeles.
San Francisco's Red Transit-Only Lanes Improving Service
For years, San Francisco has set aside transit-only lanes. However, with a fresh coat of red paint, the city has seen significant service improvements.
Los Angeles' Historic Pershing Square to Receive Family-Friendly Makeover
Los Angeles' Pershing Square, a five-acre park initially opened in 1866, will undergo major transformations to accommodate the increase of families with children living in Downtown Los Angeles.
How LEDs Re-Illuminate the Urban Night Sky
Forbes Magazine reflects on the importance and impacts of light-emitting diode (LED) lights as more cities replace their traditional streetlamps with LEDs.
New Development Projects Boost San Francisco's Northern Waterfront
The historic Fort Mason, along with several other development projects, has helped alter the landscape of the city’s northern waterfront, according to Jim Chappell, former head of the San Francisco Planning and Urban Research Association.
Late-Night Buses to Run When BART Service Stops
Alameda-Contra Costa Transit* and Bay Area Rapid Transit are considering a one-year pilot program that would provide transit service after BART's Cinderella-esque closing time.
Developer Pins Los Angeles' Infrastructure Problems on Bureaucratic Bloat
According to developer and consultant Michael P. Russell, the city of Los Angeles has a chronic shortage of funds for infrastructure due to a bloated bureaucracy, small district city council elections, and term limits.
All Aboard Florida's California Connection
All Aboard Florida, the diesel-powered, high speed (125 mph) train connecting Miami to Orlando has ordered new locomotives and coaches with Siemen's Sacramento, California plant. The mostly privately funded train should be running by 2016.
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
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority
