California

Despite Threats, Interest in Using Eminent Domain to Stop Foreclosures Grows

Since it announced a plan to combat foreclosures by using eminent domain, Richmond, CA has been beset by opposition from Wall Street and Washington. Despite the threats, other cities are exploring using the controversial tool.

November 20, 2013 - The New York Times

San Francisco Looks to Limit "No Fault" Evictions

Beset by a wave of so-called "no fault" evictions, San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee and state legislators are taking aim at the Ellis Act, and the speculators who utilize the California law to force tenants out of their rent-controlled homes.

November 19, 2013 - Los Angeles Times

Applying a "Pop-Up" Approach to the Planning Process Itself

Tactical urbanism is transforming cityscapes around the world, but what would it mean to apply a "pop-up" approach to the planning process? A recent project in Santa Monica, CA allowed participants to evaluate public realm improvements in real-time.

November 19, 2013 - Sustainable Cities Collective

BART Wants to Revisit Recent Labor Agreement

For those who though the Bay Area's transit labor woes were settled when an agreement was signed last month: think again. BART's board of directors has ordered managers to reopen negotiations after they realized a key concession had been overlooked.

November 17, 2013 - Los Angeles Times

New Pinterest Headquarters Favors Flexibility Over Tradition

The social media company Pinterest has a new home, in a converted 45,000-square-foot warehouse in San Francisco.

November 17, 2013 - Dezeen

Batkid Saves San Francisco

Thousands of people helped transform San Francisco into Gotham City on Friday on order to fulfill a young cancer patient's wish. Miles Scott experienced a day he'll never forget and those following from afar were treated to a heartwarming story.

November 16, 2013 - NPR

The U.S. City with the Highest Median Rent is....

If you guessed the Big Apple, you'd be wrong. It's the City by the Bay with a median rent of $1,463; New York City had the fifth highest at $1,187. San Jose, Boston, and Washington, D.C. were ranked second, third, and fourth respectively.

November 15, 2013 - The San Francisco Examiner

A Successful Commuter Shuttle that Serves more than Commuters

The Emery Go-Round is a shuttle service that meets the "last mile" challenge that prevents many commuters from using public transit. Unlike other commuter shuttles, it serves the greater Emeryville community as well. And the buses are full.

November 14, 2013 - NPR

During Driest Year on Record, California Seeks to Seed Clouds

For those of you who thought "cloud seeding" was science fiction, California has actually been refining the practice for more than six decades. As the state experiences its driest year on record, utilities are preparing their seeding systems.

November 13, 2013 - The Sacramento Bee

A Bike Route Map That Harry Beck Would Be Proud Of

A "wonderfully simplified" map of San Francisco's best bicycle routes modeled on Harry Beck's revolutionary map for the London Underground aims to encourage people to saddle up through clean graphic design.

November 13, 2013 - The Atlantic Cities

In Absence of Gas Tax Increases, States Look to Tolls

States are increasingly looking to alternative transportation revenue sources due to the failure of state and federal gas taxes to keep up with inflation and transportation needs. More states are turning toward tolling to make up the gap.

November 13, 2013 - Stateline

Southern California's Great Park Gets a Colossal Cut

Landscape architect Ken Smith's bold vision for a Central Park-like open space in Irvine has been hobbled by funding shortfalls. Seeking a way to move forward, the city is considering cutting key elements in favor of a developer-led proposal.

November 12, 2013 - Los Angeles Times

Sickened by Site Visit, Feds Want to Halt Drilling at Central L.A. Oil Field

Sen. Barbara Boxer is calling for an oil field owned by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of L.A. to suspend operations after EPA officials were sickened during a recent site visit. The field has been the subject of hundreds of neighbor complaints.

November 11, 2013 - Los Angeles Times

When Will Laws and Attitudes Catch Up With Cycling's Growth?

Cyclist deaths are rising across the U.S., but in most cities and states, drivers are rarely punished. As more people embrace cycling and more cities encourage it; it's time our laws, infrastructure, and attitudes are reformed to make cycling safer.

November 11, 2013 - The New York Times

Could California's Largest Casino Transform the State's Relationship with Gaming?

The $800 million Graton Resort & Casino will soon open in Sonoma County for the Federated Indians of the Graton Rancheria and be the closest tribal casino to San Francisco.

November 10, 2013 - Sacramento Bee

Climate Change Deniers, Take Notice

Save your ink if you're writing a letter to the editor of the Los Angeles Times - deniers have now been warned that the paper won't print letters 'that say there's no sign humans have caused climate change'.

November 10, 2013 - Los Angeles Times - Opinion

Slow-Growth Santa Monica Poised for Rapid Redevelopment

With 30 projects totaling nearly 3 million square feet of development in the pipeline, L.A.'s famously laid-back neighbor is in for an intense period of growth. Will new development enhance or alter the city's alluring character?

November 7, 2013 - Los Angeles Times

L.A.'s Next Superhighway

Could Los Angeles get a private company to spend $3 billion to $5 billion to connect every residence and business in the city to a fiber broadband network? City leaders seem to think so, and are planning to move forward with an RFP.

November 6, 2013 - Ars Technica

Will Mayor Garcetti Be Able to Maintain L.A.'s Multimodal Momentum?

Antonio Villaraigosa’s successes earned him a reputation as L.A.'s transportation mayor. Can Mayor Garcetti weave together high-profile projects with back to basics governance to integrate L.A.'s neighborhood development and transportation planning?

November 6, 2013 - Next City

An Urban Resurgence Driven by Tweets

The arrival of "one of the technology industry’s next big things" has been just the medicine needed to help turn around one of San Francisco's most stubbornly downtrodden areas.

November 5, 2013 - The New York Times

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.

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.