California

The End Of San Francisco's High-Rise Housing Boom

A prominent developer predicts that all hi-rise housing will cease in the San Francisco due to the credit crisis. The result, says an urban think tank director, will be more sprawl development in the Bay Area as it presents the least financial risk.

April 6, 2009 - San Francisco Chronicle

California Desert A Hotbed for Alternative Energy

On the state's path towards drawing 20 percent of its energy from renewable sources by the end of 2010, California is focusing on its southern desert as the site of this alternative energy generation.

April 5, 2009 - NPR

Retiring Environmental Hero Shaped Water Policy

An exit interview with Tom Graff, who joined Environmental Defense Fund in 1971, when the environmental movement was just getting started.

April 3, 2009 - The Planning Report

Washington Not Stimulating New Growth Patterns

For the first time since the Carter administration, Washington is in the position of paying for seemingly everything. But how will the federal government's spending affect growth in California? Not in the way you might think, says Bill Fulton.

April 2, 2009 - California Planning & Development Report

Where California's Foreclosure Hot Spots Went Wrong

This piece form the Modesto Bee looks at the growth and housing bust that has dramatically affected California's San Joaquin Valley -- home to some of the nation's highest rates of foreclosure.

March 31, 2009 - The Modesto Bee

A Blueprint For Making Cities Efficient, Sustainable And Livable

Nicolai Ouroussoff, architecture critic for The New York Times, argues that the time is right for a new vision of rebirth for America's ailing cities. He applies this new vision to the challenges of New Orleans, Los Angeles, the Bronx, and Buffalo.

March 30, 2009 - The New York Times

The Work of Historical Ecology

This piece from the San Francisco Chronicle takes readers inside the world of a historical ecologists -- one who tries to document what landscapes used to be and how they've evolved over time.

March 30, 2009 - San Francisco Chronicle

Despite Drama, Signs Can Have a Role in L.A.

L.A. is boiling with billboard drama right now. Los Angeles Times architecture critic Christopher Hawthorne looks at the debate and argues that signage can have a positive role in the urban landscape.

March 30, 2009 - Los Angeles Times

ARRA Lowers Transit Expenses

With all the 'shovel-ready' talk focused on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, gone unnoticed by many was the huge increase in the transit costs that can be included in the pretax program to assist commuters - $230/month can now be included.

March 28, 2009 - Contra Costa Times

Charging Motorists For Crashes They Cause

Cash-strapped towns in California are resorting to what opponents dub an "accident tax". At-fault, out-of-town drivers involved in a crash are sent a bill for the public services sent to clean-up the incident. Local motorists are spared.

March 27, 2009 - Capitol Weekly

Massive Solar Plants Spur Ecological Debate in California

The ecological impact of solar power plants is fueling a huge debate in the small rural town of Carissa Plains in California's coastal San Luis Obispo County, where the world's largest solar plants are being planned.

March 27, 2009 - Time

California Desert Contested in Alternative Energy Plans

California wants solar and wind power, but just where it goes is rife with controversy. Senator Dianne Feinstein is coming out against plans to build huge solar and wind farms in sensitive desert areas.

March 26, 2009 - Los Angeles Times

"Land of Extremes" Feels the Hurt

California's Inland Empire's status as one of the nation's leader in foreclosures has fleeing retail as proof of it. This article offers a glimpse in this "land of extremes."

March 26, 2009 - The New York Times

San Francisco Plans Pedestrian Street

San Francisco is looking to follow New York City's lead as it moves forward with plans to convert a portion of street into a pedestrian plaza.

March 26, 2009 - Streetsblog SF

Lawrence Ferlinghetti's Urban Vision

Poet and longtime San Francisco Lawrence Ferlinghetti told Streetsblog his vision for an urban park in North Beach, in this video interview.

March 25, 2009 - Streetsblog SF

Unappreciated Cyclists In Sausalito

Marin County has a reputation to live up to. In this column, Sausalito does just that in its treatment of hordes of cycling tourists who rent bikes on Fisherman's Wharf, pedal across the GG Bridge to have lunch in Sausalito, and return on the ferry.

March 24, 2009 - San Francisco Chronicle

Time May Be Right for Mag-Lev From Vegas to SoCal

A magnetic levitation train link between Anaheim and Las Vegas has been on the table for 30 years. Now could be the time the project finally gets enough traction to go from idea to reality.

March 24, 2009 - Las Vegas Sun

San Francisco Rail: A Living History

S.F. historian Carl Nolte examines S.F.'s vibrant streetcar history and today's modern light rail replacements.

March 24, 2009 - San Francisco Chronicle

Cleaning Out and Keeping Up Foreclosures

As foreclosures spread throughout California's Inland Empire, empty homes need to be cleaned and maintained. To meet the demand, an industry is rapidly expanding.

March 20, 2009 - The New York Times

The News Hour Reports On Public Transit In Peril

"Blueprint America" looks at declining public transit subsidies and resulting transit service cuts. The video and report follows two East Bay commuters on suburban bus, BART; the transit agency meeting where bus service is reduced; MUNI LRT footage.

March 20, 2009 - PBS-The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer

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.