California

Oakland to Open Eco-Friendly Homeless Shelter

Crossroads, a 125-bed homeless facility, incorporates green building concepts to better serve its clients. Many homeless people have respiratory-related health problems and a green building will be healthier for them.

January 29, 2008 - The New York Times

Facelift in Works For L.A.'s Broadway

City officials in Los Angeles are planning to announce a proposal to revitalize the city's historic theater district in downtown's Broadway corridor, likely replacing the working class retail that has occupied the area for years.

January 28, 2008 - The Los Angeles Times

Bringing San Francisco's Sixth Street Back to Life

San Francisco's Sixth Street has been decidedly run-down for years. But redevelopment efforts -- including the likely seizure of a vacant and historic hotel building -- may be changing the face of the street for the better.

January 28, 2008 - The San Francisco Chronicle

Proposal To 'Unbundle' Parking Heads To San Francisco Supervisors

A San Francisco supervisor has proposed several changes in parking regulations that will result in reduced new housing costs, and potentially reduced car ownership and operation. It requires the approval of the Board of Supervisors.

January 25, 2008 - San Francisco Examiner

L.A. Looks To Go Zero Waste By 2030

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has announced plans to bring the city to a zero-waste policy by 2030.

January 23, 2008 - The Daily Breeze

A Test for Walkability

The city of Pasadena, California has enlisted a groups of more than 100 volunteers to walks and evaluate its streets to rate the city's walkability.

January 22, 2008 - Pasadena Star-News

Baby Steps to Downtown Living

Downtown L.A. is redeveloping into a residential neighborhood. But is it baby-friendly?

January 22, 2008 - L.A. Downtown News

Dry Dry West

This article from National Geographic looks at the increasing strain on the water supplying the western U.S.

January 21, 2008 - National Geographic

Funding Proposal May Halt California's High-Speed Rail Plans

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger wanted lawmakers to pull a nearly $10 billion bill from the November ballot that would fund a long-sought high-speed rail system, but he now wants the legislation to require private funding partnerships.

January 19, 2008 - Associated Press via San Francisco Chronicle

L.A.'s 'Ecosystem' Beginning to Crack Under Hollywood Strike

The Hollywood writer's strike is beginning to have ripple effects throughout the Los Angeles economy, and has already cost the city $1.4 billion in lost wages.

January 18, 2008 - Observer (UK)

Hot Air: Jerry Brown Becomes Climate Change Warrior

Former California Governor Jerry Brown, now the state's attorney general, is vowing to sue cities and counties that do not take climate change into consideration during general plan updates.

January 18, 2008 - California Planning & Development Report

Lessons From Below Sea Level

Global warming is exacerbating the threat of flooding in low-lying areas such as Holland and California's Sacramento Delta. Politicians in California are looking to Holland for examples of how to prevent flooding from happening.

January 16, 2008 - NPR

Train Funding Lowers Ridership in L.A.

Funding for L.A.'s rail projects is lowering transit ridership, according to this op-ed based on an analysis of transportation spending, subsidies and boarding statistics.

January 16, 2008 - The Los Angeles Times

The Emergence of the Northern California Megaregion

The powerful northern California "megaregion" was revealed when it was awarded $840 million by the state Transportation Commission to the amazement and chagrin of southern California, which had been expecting to receive the majority of state funds.

January 16, 2008 - The Contra Costa Times

Many Upset About Plans to Keep Industrial Lands Industrial

Plans to keep nearly 80% of downtown L.A.'s industrial lands exclusively industrial has developers and business leaders up in arms.

January 15, 2008 - L.A. Downtown News

Revitalization Edging Out Blacks in San Francisco

A new light rail line, a number of condo projects and a broad revitalization plan are changing the face of San Francisco's Bayview district. Many in the neighborhood see the changes pushing out blacks.

January 14, 2008 - The San Francisco Chronicle

'Affordable-By-Design' Recommended For San Francisco

The Examiner looks at the loss of middle-class housing in San Francisco, and how, based on a new report by a local urban think tank, allowing more flexibility in zoning would allow affordable, but market-rate housing to meet the demand.

January 13, 2008 - San Francisco Examiner

Bikeable Cities: Point-Counterpoint

Part of a week-long series, Randal O'Toole and blogger Will Campbell debate why some cities are good for cyclists, how they got there, and why L.A. is still far off.

January 12, 2008 - The Los Angeles Times

BART Transit Village Idea Up In Air

Plans to develop a transit village around one of the San Francisco Bay Area's BART stations is gaining support, but some local officials are voicing concerns over the increased load on city infrastructure and services.

January 12, 2008 - The Contra Costa Times

Not Everyone Wants To Protect L.A.'s Industrial Lands

The fate of industrial properties is the subject of a huge, ongoing battle in Los Angeles. City planners and economic development boosters want to prevent conversions to residential uses — much to the consternation of free-market advocates.

January 11, 2008 - California Planning & Development Report

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.

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.