California

The Living Wage Mandate Works

A 2003 policy that mandated that subsidized developements grant jobs at living wages has not hampered development, according to one official.

December 7, 2011 - Capital New York

Field Poll: HSR Falls Into Disfavor With Majority Of Californians

According to the non-partisan, independent poll, 64% of respondents endorse placing the 2008, $9.95 billion bond measure back on the ballot to allow voters to choose to proceed with the train project now that costs have doubled; 59% would vote 'no'.

December 6, 2011 - San Francisco Chronicle

Regional Planners Sued for Promoting Sprawl

The Cleveland National Forest Foundation is suing SANDAG over a $200 billion transportation plan that purportedly only promotes sprawl through freeway extensions.

December 4, 2011 - KPBS

San Francisco: "Transit First" In Name Only

Well ahead of it's time, San Francisco adopted a 'transit-first policy' in 1973. However, the 'drive-alone' mode dominates at 39%. While far better than elsewhere in the Bay Area and much of the U.S., transit remains clearly in second place at 32%.

December 2, 2011 - San Francisco Examiner

Will CA HSR Survive Leg' Analyst's Blistering Report?

The non-partisan Legislative Analyst pulled no punches. To proceed with the project without more funding and environmental clearances would violate the authorizing ballot proposition and endanger funding for all other state needs, including education

December 1, 2011 - San Jose Mercury News

Native-born Californians Reign Again

It's 1900 all over again - more Californians are born here than come from other states or countries. The recession and high housing costs have continued the outflow from the state meaning that growth is dependent largely on offspring of immigrants.

November 30, 2011 - Los Angeles Times

Redevelopment Project Sweeps The Bay Area

In San Francisco, almost one out of every six acres is slated to become parkland in the new urban infill projects in Mission Bay.

November 29, 2011 - City Parks Blog

Is the Central Valley The Vietnam For CA High Speed Rail?

It's been called a white elephant and a boondoggle, but Stanford rail historian Richard White went further in his interview in the NYT by comparing it with escalating involvement in an unwinnable war.

November 28, 2011 - The New York Times- U.S.

BART To San Jose To Take $772 Million Step

One of the costliest transit projects in the Bay Area is a $772 million contract, closer to construction come Dec. 8. The long-awaited BART extension from Fremont to the region's largest city may be contingent on FTA funding expected in February.

November 28, 2011 - San Jose Mercury News

"Environmental Architecture" at its Finest

Sarah Williams Goldhagen profiles The Sea Ranch; despite its failure as an alternative to suburban sprawl, it is considered a model for its environmentally sensitive, "sublimely beautiful" development.

November 27, 2011 - The New Republic

East Bay County Proposes Half-Cent Transportation Sales Tax

The newly formed Alameda County Transportation Commission is proposing a permanent, half-cent sales tax be placed on before the voters of the second most populous Bay Area county for the Nov. 2012 ballot for a variety of transportation purposes.

November 26, 2011 - Contra Costa Times

From Foreclosed Home to Pocket Park

The city of Pacoima, CA is going ahead with a new program that transforms foreclosed homes into pocket parks. Vacant lots are being considered in addition to 10 foreclosed sites.

November 25, 2011 - LA Daily News

Another Billion Dollars Awarded to CA HSR

Per a USDOT press release on Monday, Secretary LaHood has OK'd an additional $928.6 million in funding for California high speed rail, keeping the funds out of reach from state Republicans who'd rather the money go to highway construction.

November 24, 2011 - California High Speed Rail Blog

CEQA Lawsuit Delays Another Streetscape Improvement

The California Environmental Quality Act, a landmark 1970 environmental law now considered an obstacle to smart growth by some urban planners, has claimed another victim in a project that seeks to reduce car use while promoting biking and walking.

November 23, 2011 - Palo Alto On-line

Hearst Corp Planning To Redevelop San Francisco Block

Hearst Corporation is planning to redevelop the city block that surrounds its San Francisco Chronicle offices at 5th and Mission. The update would include a new mixed use tower containing 1.3 million square feet of commercial space.

November 22, 2011 - SF Gate

Bike Lanes Go Green

The Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles is the testing grounds for Los Angeles' first bike lanes to incorporate a bright green color to indicate bike lanes and areas where bikes and cars share the space.

November 22, 2011 - LADOT Bike Blog

LA Street Slips Into The Pacific

Heavy rains Sunday afternoon exacerbated a subsiding roadway in the L.A. suburb of San Pedro, leaving gaping holes and exposing plumbing and other infrastructure housed beneath the street.

November 21, 2011 - Los Angeles Times

Pocket Parks Coming to Los Angeles

Last week, Mayor Villaraigosa presented his vision for a more livable L.A., including the addition of fifty pocket parks.

November 21, 2011 - The Los Angeles Times

Transit Reboot in the Napa Valley

Saddled with an aging fleet of buses and infrequent schedules, the Napa County Transportation and Planning Agency has secured federal funds to replace most of its fleet and build a new transit center.

November 21, 2011 - Napa Valley Register

Even the 1% Are Selling Their Mansions At Auctions

After languishing on the market for years and steadily getting price-chopped, mansions and estates are hitting the auction block. Candace Jackson explains this has always been a last-resort move, and an unusual one for the wealthy.

November 18, 2011 - The Wall St. Journal

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.