California
Tying Rail in Downtown L.A.
Plans are being floated to create better downtown linkage between three of L.A.'s rail lines -- an idea that some downtown residents are wary of.
Failing Infrastructure Causes Routine Sewage Leaks
Sewage routinely spills into the San Francisco Bay, mainly due to aging and crumbling infrastructure. This report looks at the issue.
Municipal Bankruptcy Woes
The cities of Vallejo, California, and McCall, Idaho, are considering filing for bankruptcy.
Variable Toll May Replace Flat Golden Gate Bridge Toll
The Bay Area's $158 million Urban Partnership Grant is in trouble. It appears politically unlikely that a roadway toll will pass the legislature, so officials hope to change the flat Golden Gate Bridge toll to a variable toll to receive the grant.
Bearing the Costs of Disaster Area Development
Should everyone pay for a few people to live in fire- and disaster-prone areas?
Injecting Public Space into Palm Springs
Palm Springs -- once the epicenter of Spring Break -- is criticized by many for lacking public spaces. Now, a collection of architects, planners and urban designers have put out some ideas for improving the city.
San Francisco Subway Plans Blasted
Plans to build a short subway in San Francisco are meeting criticism.
Land Unused
Residents and city officials in L.A. battle over what to do with unused land surrounding the Silver Lake Reservoir.
User-Funded Infrastructure Repair Proposed in L.A.
City officials in Los Angeles are considering a plan to repair the city's crumbling sidewalks by forcing homeowners to pay for their repair when the property is sold.
Environmentalists Split On Cap & Trade Approach To Climate Protection
In what may be viewed as a striking fracture to a unified approach to climate change, 18 environmental justice groups have announced their opposition to any type of carbon trading or even carbon offset approach, preferring use of carbon fees instead.
The Danger Of 1950s Planning In The 21st Century
An old Navy base presents the San Francisco suburb of Alameda with a great opportunity. However, a long-standing city policy that prohibits high-density development could quash that opportunity.
L.A. Pushes Green Building Standards
Los Angeles is moving forward with plans to institute one of the country's strictest green building ordinances.
Uproar Over Bond Funds Benefiting Railroads
When California voters approved the $20 billion transportation bond in Nov., 2006 they supported the expenditure of over $2 billion for 'goods movement' stemming from the state's busy ports. However, some local officials object to rail projects.
California Still Has Small Ag Towns? You Bet
California's Central Valley is a distinctive place - a farm belt with many small towns featuring classic downtowns. California Planning & Development Report rates the best of these downtowns.
L.A. Light Rail Changes Sought Due to Safety Concerns
Citing safety concerns, a grassroots organizer in Los Angeles is lobbying the city to rethink plans for a light rail line that passes by a school. He says the entire line should be built underground.
One-Way Plans Move Forward in L.A.
Plans are inching forward to convert two of L.A.'s most-used cross-town corridors into mostly one way streets.
Marine Protection Zone Proposed in California
California officials are proposing a broad swath of protected marine areas -- a plan that aims to reduce fishing and allow marine populations to flourish longer before being caught for consumption.
Is the Hollywood Sign Getting New Neighbors?
A 138-acre plot of land above L.A.'s iconic Hollywood sign is up for sale. Many in L.A. are protesting the sale, which could lead to the development of luxury homes on the site.
L.A. May Bring Streetcar Back
Public officials in Los Angeles are floating ideas to bring back its historic downtown streetcar.
Increasing Affordable Housing Requirement Sparks Debate in San Francisco
Planners in San Francisco are battling with city supervisors over plans to increase the affordable housing requirements for a new development -- a proposal that some planners say might scare off developers.
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.
Eagle County Government
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Nashville Planning Department
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
Journal of the American Planning Association
