California

Controversial Plan for Hollywood Moves Closer to Approval

A controversial new community plan for Hollywood made it's first appearance before City Council members this week. James Brasuell was on hand to capture the drama.

March 29, 2012 - Curbed LA

The Pivotal Parallels of Water and Energy

Nate Berg examines the nexus between water use and energy use, and the need to bring this frequently overlooked connection to the attention of planners and designers.

March 28, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

San Francisco's Battle With Mother Nature

As climate change accelerates coastal erosion across the continent, officials everywhere look to San Francisco to see how it will stem the tide, Felicity Barringer reports.

March 28, 2012 - New York Times

Taking Measure of LA's Westside Subway Project

Yonah Freemark assesses one of the nation's most important public transportation improvement projects, LA's long discussed Westside Subway project which is closer than ever to construction, but still a long ways off from completion.

March 27, 2012 - the transport politic

Tracking the Good and Bad News on California High-Speed Rail

Dan Walters reported over the weekend that recent efforts to appease various constituencies nervous about CA's HSR plans have paid off with the project likely to get the green light from the Legislature soon. But don't book your tickets just yet.

March 27, 2012 - The Sacramento Bee

Keeping the Last Century Alive in Los Angeles

Patricia Kirk profiles Dave Goldstein, a Los Angeles native on a mission to preserve, restore, and rent historic residences throughout Hollywood.

March 24, 2012 - Urban Land

A Deadlocked Washington Leaves Export-Oriented Growth Up To Cities

Bruce Katz of the Brookings Institute explains the importance of exports to a metro region's economy. As the US Federal Government remains politically frozen, how can American cities grow economically by fostering trade partnerships across the world?

March 23, 2012 - The Planning Report

Getty To Promote Preservation of Modern Architecture

Christopher Hawthorne reports on a just announced initiative by the Getty Conservation Institute to finance research into innovative solutions to the technical challenges unique to the preservation of modern architecture.

March 23, 2012 - Los Angeles Times

Hitting The Sweet Spot In Regional Planning

The Sacramento, California, region may be witnessing a minor planning miracle: a regional sustainability plan lauded by developers, environmentalists, and civic officials alike.

March 22, 2012 - California Planning & Development Report

San Francisco Pilot Parking Program Watched By Other Cities

The search for an available parking space in most busy downtowns can be frustrating, especially when the motorist insists on parking for free. For those cities that do charge for parking, can a variable price free-up spaces? SF hopes to prove so.

March 21, 2012 - The New York Times - U.S.

Seeking Visions for the Future of Design and Planning in NYC

Looking back on the remarkable transformation of urban life in New York during Mayor Bloomberg's administration, William Menking wonders what the next mayor will do to support design and planning in the city.

March 21, 2012 - The Architect's Newspaper

Excavating the Foundation of LA's Sprawl

Ever wonder why Los Angeles looks the way it does? Jeremy Rosenberg examines 1908's Residence District Ordinance as one of the principal culprits in the newest addition to the "Laws That Shaped L.A." series.

March 21, 2012 - KCET Departures

Google and Mountain View Look To The Jetsons For Inspiration

Google is big business in Mountain View, but it's located in a cul-de-sac business park two miles from the city's transit center. "Personal rapid transit" may be the answer to solving the company's commuting challenges.

March 20, 2012 - California Planning & Development Report

Can the Bay Area Grow Up Without Growing Out?

John King writes about an ambitious new regional plan for the Bay Area that looks to accommodate the 1.1 million new jobs and 2.1 million new residents expected by 2040, with relatively little suburban sprawl.

March 20, 2012 - San Francisco Chronicle

City Hacking Goes Mainstream

Within the last six months, two forward thinking American cities have created new positions for Chief Innovation Officers, with a mission to connect city hall with a new generation of problem-solvers outside of it, reports Emily Badger.

March 19, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

Tech Boom is Feuling Another Bay Area Real Estate War

Unlike the prior generation of tech executives who spent their lavish earnings on wealthy neighborhoods and Silicon Valley suburbs, a new generation of dot-com profiteers are driving up housing costs in grittier parts of San Francisco.

March 19, 2012 - The Wall Street Journal

A Prelude to More Equal Road Rights for Bikers?

The bicycle rights movement is on the rise as two new California laws give bike riders more equality on the road, reports Eric Jaffe.

March 16, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

In Lean Times, Private Citizen Funds Public Infrastructure

Nate Berg reports on the efforts of one Bay Area business owner to get his city to upgrade its internet infrastructure by investing his own money.

March 15, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

Can Bay Area Transit Be Saved?

With rapidly increasing gaps between costs and funding, the transit systems serving the San Francisco bay area are on an unsustainable path. Egon Terplan offers six solutions to ensure they serve bay area residents long into the future.

March 15, 2012 - Streetsblog SF

Post-Redevelopment Bills May Pass California Legislature

Bills would permit cities and counties to create joint powers authorities to replace redevelopment agencies and require long-term real estate investment plans.

March 15, 2012 - www.cp-dr.com

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.