California
Historic Preservation Through Virtual Reality
By utilizing virtual reality software, students at UC Berkeley are recreating a historic stretch of Oakland, California's 7th Street, a historic hotbed of jazz and blues clubs during the 1940s and '50s.
Evictions Precede Market-Rate Conversion of Affordable Housing
Plans to convert one of San Francisco's public housing projects into market rate housing has resulted in dozens of evictions, and more are expected.
Bay Area Reluctantly Warms Up to On-Ramp Metering
With increasing congestion and freeways built out just about as far as they can go, transportation planners in the San Francisco Bay Area are considering plans to put on-ramp metering lights on many of the area's most congested stretches of freeway.
If You Prevent It, They Won't Do It
The Golden Gate Bridge has a four foot railing along its pedestrian sidewalk. Mental health advocates have long demanded that a barrier be placed to prevent those intent on suicide from jumping, and point to studies showing why it is needed.
Small Town Approaching its Final Days
A proposed development in rural Southern California could erase one of the area's few remaining small towns, replacing it with a massive subdivision that would extend the sprawl of Los Angeles even farther north.
A Brief History of Planning in San Diego
As the city of San Diego prepares to consider a new general plan, the San Diego Union-Tribune looks back at the last 100 years in city planning.
Long Beach Mayor Discusses Incentives for Renewable Energy
At a recent conference in Southern California, Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster argues for the federal government to stay out of the way of good work and to sponsor an "Apollo Project" for renewable energy.
Fuel Cell Buses: A Tale Of Two Transit Agencies
In the San Francisco Bay Area, two public transit agencies are conducting trials with "Zero Emission Buses", or ZEBs. They are using different types of hydrogen fuel cell technologies, with very different results.
End of Downtown Construction Boom May Be Near
Two notable large-scale projects in downtown L.A. have not broken ground on time, which many see as a sign of the end of downtown's real estate boom.
Beneath the Surface of L.A.'s Densification
This article from the LA Weekly looks at efforts by the city planning department and key politicians to increase the density of the city.
Time To Solve Problems Of California's Delta Is Now
The largest estuary in the West, the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, has been in trouble for many years. Yet policy-makers have been unable or unwilling to undertake major projects. That may change in 2008.
New Findings on Immigrants, Crime, & Incarceration
A new report from a non-profit, non-partisan California think tank finds that immigrants, both legal and undocumented, have lower rates of incarceration and criminal activity in California than the U.S.-born population.
Is L.A. Ready to Rethink Mobility?
Plans to convert major arteries to one-way streets in L.A. are meeting tough criticism. Many say the city needs to rethink what mobility should mean, but others say L.A. isn't ready for such a paradigm shift.
Green Building Requirement Weighed in San Francisco
The city of San Francisco is considering a proposal to require most new commercial and residential buildings to comply with the green building standard LEED.
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.
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
