California
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The 20 Dirtiest Cities in the U.S.
California has 7 of the 20 cities with the poorest air quality, according to a list complied by Forbes. Bakersfield, which has 60 days of unhealthy air a year, takes the top spot for its hot and dusty weather and proximity to oil fields.
"Shoulder Pads" For A Stadium
Design and architecture firm Gensler has released their newest plans for the proposed football stadium in downtown Los Angeles.
Los Angeles' Streetcar Plans Under Fire
With available funding from U.S. Tiger grant, Los Angeles has big hopes for its downtown which include a streetcar line that would go from north to south. Critics say the line is redundant of other existing transit.
Breaking up Southern California's Love Affair With Imported Water
Costs to import water are expected to skyrocket in Southern California, making the Metropolitan Water District look for other sources. Groundwater anyone?
Top Educated Cities in California Mostly in Bay Area
With 79.7 percent of its residents with a bachelor's degree or higher, Palo Alto, home to tech giants Facebook and Hewlett-Packard, is the most educated city in California, reports Joanna Lin for California Watch.
New Library Making A Splash With Public Art
West Hollywood, California recently opened a new public library, hiring a number of prominent artists like Shepard Fairey to turn it into a local landmark.
High Speed Rail Authority Hit With New Suit
Days after the CA HSR Authority was dealt a serious setback over its environmental analysis for the San Jose to SF segment, a new suit has been filed by Kings County. Construction must begin in the Central Valley next year to retain fed' funding.
New Efforts To Liven Up Parks
In Ohio, officials are looking at new ways to liven up their parks. They are providing incentives for volunteers to help beautify and maintain the parks, in addition to adding new programs to attract users to frequent the parks.
The McMansion as Dorm
In Merced, California, students fill in the large homes chockablock with amenities and left vacant by a high foreclosure rate. Rents often go for under $300 a month.
Companies Use CEQA as a Weapon
When a student housing firm faced competition in the form of a proposed new building at USC, it filed a lawsuit against them using CEQA (the California Environmental Quality Act). Then they sued the developer's other projects too.
Gas Prices On The Rise Despite Reduced Gas Consumption
Americans are driving less and more efficiently, resulting in reduced gas consumption - yet prices are rising. What gives? For a nation that relies on oil imports despite surging drilling, the answer is unusual.
Setback for HSR in San Jose to San Francisco Environmental Analysis
Three neighboring Peninsula cities scored a major victory in court by forcing the CA High Speed Rail Authority to reopen and revise the environmental document for the San Jose to San Francisco segment that they had hoped was finally completed.
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
