California
Unclogging L.A.'s Streets
With a strong style and a common-sense approach, Gloria Jeff is taking on one of the world's most unenviable jobs: general manager of the Los Angeles Department of Transportation.
Some Residents Lament As Developers Reign In L.A.
Los Angeles faces projections of a population increase of up to 5 million people by 2030. The city's residents and planners are trying to come to terms with growth as a necessity, but the city's developer-friendly attitude has angered many residents.
Free-Transit On 'Bad Air Days" Popular, But Funds Exhausted
"Spare the Air" is a program operated by the Bay Area's air district to encourage use of public transit on 'bad air' days. They funded 3 "free transit" days to accompany the warnings. Ridership increased greatly but funding is exhausted too soon.
Bay Area Ends Free Transit Experiment
A popular and successful experiment to boost ridership on 26 Bay Area transit systems on designated "Spare the Air" days ends due to lack of funding, while some believe the plan may have been good for the local economy.
San Diego Reaches Compromise On Inclusionary Zoning
The city will amend its three-year-old ordinance to settle a lawsuit brought by the local the Building Industry Association.
The Most Polluted Places In America – National Parks?
California's Central Valley is known to be one of the most polluted areas in U.S., but few know that the two national parks above the Valley, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, actually have higher ozone concentrations than the flatlands below.
Upscale Development Boom in the High Desert
Even as the housing market slows in Southern California, an upscale housing boom continues in Antelope Valley.
The Political Power of Big Oil in California
Using their large purses and incredible political strength in the California legislature, lobbyists for the oil industry have succeeded in killing any legislation they have deemed a serious threat to profits.
Unique Open Space Sales Tax Measure Attempts To Be Renewed
A quarter cent sales tax measure, which has raised $200 million since 1990 and preserved 70,000 acres of open space, may be put before the voters of Santa Rosa, CA, in November for early re-authorization.
Sacramento Creates Infill Housing Council
The council will work with city officials and developers identify workable sites for infill housing as an alternative to sprawl.
San Francisco Becoming Artist-Unfriendly
Long known as a city of writers and artists, San Francisco can't hold on to its creative types due to its high cost of living.
Will Sprawl Fee Spread To The Bay Area?
The Bay Area's Air Quality District is awaiting the outcome of the building industry's litigation against the country's first regulation of "indirect sources" in California's heavily polluted Central Valley.
A Turnaround For One Infamous L.A. Neighborhood
The revival of the Rampart District, a generation after it became one of the most violent districts in Los Angeles and seven years after its famous police scandal, shows how diverse are the factors that determine urban evolution.
Are Oakland's Schools Prepared For Downtown Housing Boom?
With tens of thousands of housing units springing up downtown and nearby classrooms already at capacity, the local school district is figuring out how to meet the coming demand.
Interview With L.A.'s New Planning Chief
Gail Goldberg speaks about the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead as she tackles planning for the nation's second largest city.
Small Box Architecture
A couple build their house using corrugated metal shipping containers.
$1 Billion Housing Bond Headed For L.A. City Ballot
A $1-billion bond measure that would help fund about 1,000 new affordable housing units annually over the next decade and enable middle-income workers to become first-time homeowners is likely to appear on the Los Angeles ballot in November.
Higher Taxes Could Encourage Sprawl
Proposed tax hikes in San Francisco could hurt the region's smart growth efforts by encouraging businesses to move out of the center city.
Californians May Soon Be Cooking With Cow Power
With the largest dairy herds in the U.S., California could generate up to 5% of its natural gas from cow manure.
What Happens When A Company Town Scales Back Public Services?
The quaint lumber company town of Scotia, California, fears a merger with its slightly larger, but economically-depressed neighbor across the river.
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.
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont
