California
'Make My Day' Meets 'Hasta La Vista'
In a classic Hollywood showdown that could only happen in California politics, Gov. Schwarzenegger axed actor-director-former Carmel, CA mayor Clint Eastwood from the Parks Commission at the expiration of his term after his 'no-vote' on a toll road.
Introducing Smart Growth To An Edge City
A new master plan for Los Angeles's Century City attempts to undo some of the shortcomings that typically plague Modernist master-planned edge cities. Its goals include walkability, greening, and a more appealing public realm.
The Pains of Popularity
San Diego's downtown trolley service is becoming too popular, causing officials to propose equipment upgrades to handle the rising crowds. But the bigger trolleys will take out some car lanes and affect traffic lights, and many are unhappy about it.
Subprime Tent Cities
This video from the BBC looks at the ten cities that have sprung up outside of L.A. as a result of the subprime mortgage meltdown.
Congestion Pricing Approved for Golden Gate Bridge
The Golden Gate Bridge District, in agreeing to apply congestion pricing to the bridge, has saved the $158 million Urban Partnership grant for the Bay Area in the nick of time, but has created turmoil with S.F because of where the revenue goes.
New Funding Resuscitates L.A.'s Grand Avenue Project
The highly anticipated mixed-use Grand Avenue project in downtown L.A. has just secured $100 million in funding. This new funding is expected to kickstart the project's construction, which has been delayed for months.
Planning System Revamp May Speed Development in Santa Cruz
Bureaucratic red tape has slowed the development process for years in Santa Cruz, California. Now proposed changes look to speed up the process, but critics say the changes could open the door to under-controlled development.
Foraging for Food in the Urban Environment
This report from Weekend America talks with an urban food forager and looks at how to find food on the street in L.A.
Public Buildings with a Side of Art
Included in the budget of any new county building in Los Angeles County is a 1% line item for the creation of public art -- part of a public art program initiated in 2004. The first building to utilize this line item has just been completed.
Slow Transit? Put it Underground
This piece from the San Francisco Chronicle argues that the best way to improve the city's sluggish public transit system is to put it underground.
Grim Forecast For Transportation Progress In Bay Area
Bay Area political columnist Dan Borenstein examines long-term transportation data and concludes that driving will only increase unless politicians make driving more expensive and transit cheaper, a solution he regards as unlikely at best.
Commuter Rail Rolls in San Diego
After three decades of planning, a new commuter rail line has opened in the San Diego area.
Wilshire Grows and Traffic Follows
A swath of residential developments are ushering in a more dense and more lively atmosphere into L.A.'s Wilshire corridor. But many are concerned that the new residences will add too much traffic to an already congested area.
Developed Agricultural Land May Become 'The Next L.A.'
Farmland in Central California's San Joaquin County is replaced with development more than any other county in the state -- a wasteful pattern that could create the "next L.A.", according to a new report.
Similar Sister Cities
A look at the similarities between Los Angeles and Mexico City.
L.A. Looks To Move Beyond Coal With Wind
The Southern California region is rich in renewable assets, so the LADWP is attempting to become the nationwide leader in developing and integrating wind power.
Sacramento Outsmarts San Francisco, L.A.
Residents of San Francisco and Los Angeles like to feel superior to supposedly unsophisticated Sacramento. Yet, Sacramento appears to be ahead of the hip coastal areas when it comes to actually implementing smart growth.
Guarding the Hollywood Sign
This report from NPR looks at the impending sale of land on the hillside above the infamous Hollywood sign in Los Angeles, and the local official who's trying to prevent it.
L.A. Erasing Murals
Murals are under fire in Los Angeles, as city officials are painting over what they see as "illegal signs".
Affordable Housing May Be Required in San Francisco Redevelopment
A measure to require half of all new housing units in San Francisco's planned redevelopment of Bayview-Hunters Point is heading to the city's June ballot. The developer says the measure will kill the project.
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
