California
Plan To Increase Prison Capacity Meets Criticism
Under pressure from federal judges, California has approved plans to build 53,000 new prison and jail beds as part of a $7.3 billion construction effort. Critics say increasing capacity does not address the reasons why prisons are overcrowded.
The Paragon Of Sprawl Tries Its Hand At Urban Design
The Los Angeles Planning Department has established an Urban Design Studio to tackle the city's thousands of miles of dead streets and aesthetic blight.
Transporting Green Energy May Threaten Natural Resources
As California tries to meet its goal of 20% renewable energy use by 2010, it faces the challenge of transporting all that renewable energy without negatively affecting the state's other natural resources.
Military Wastes Pose Environmental Risks in California
Munitions, toxic chemicals, and even radioactive wasts at current and former military sites in California pose a serious environmental risk. The extent and scale is unknown as sites predate environmental standards.
Valet Your Bike?
Cities across California are taking extra steps to encourage people to use their bikes, offering such services as full-service bike stations equipped with showers, and even valet bike parking.
New Planning Rules For LA?
A new set of principles and findings to guide future planning in the city has reportedly been giving to planning staff and decision makers.
Republicans Warm Up To Fighting Climate Change
Conservative lawmakers are using climate change as a political issue. Environmentalists are not happy.
County Sued Because General Plan Doesn't Consider Global Warming
In the first suit of its kind in the state, if not the country, a Southern California county was sued by environmental groups because their general plan doesn't consider the effects of global warming. The state attorney general has joined the suit.
Myths About Solar Power
A marketing campaign hopes to educate California homeowners of how solar power works.
San Francisco Looks To Reverse Family-Flight Trend
Recently, a long-standing trend of family-flight from San Francisco seems to be reversing. The city hopes to retain more families in coming years, increasing the population of children and families back to peak amounts from nearly 50 years ago.
The Second-Most Expensive Home in The U.S.
A Beverly Hills mansion called the "Fleur de Lys" goes on the market for $125 million, making it the second-most expensive private residence in the United States.
The Grocery Store Every Community Wants
The specialty grocery store chain Trader Joe's is often wooed by communities around California -- but the chain remains secretive about its location selection process.
Ten Ideas For Fixing L.A.'s Traffic
Transit experts Jim Moore, Don Shoup, Joel Kotkin, Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris, Ted Balaker, Joel Reynolds and Brian Taylor all offer suggestions on how to affordably fix Los Angeles' traffic problems.
Environmental Lawsuits Fuel Roadbuilding In California
California's Department of Transportation has resorted recently to forcing developers to pay impact fees to fund freeway projects, to the chagrin of developers, local governments, and taxpayer groups.
California Establishes Statewide Ocean Preserves
The state has become the first in the nation to impose a statewide ocean preserve system, which is set to be put in place in phases beginning this summer. When fully established, 8 percent of the state's waters would be restricted from any human use.
Ventura, CA Adopts Downtown Retail And Office Strategy
Bill Fulton, a city council member for Ventura, California, offers an insider's view on adoption of the city's downtown retail and office strategy. The consultant's report.
L.A. Planning Director's Three Criteria For A Neighborhood
L.A. City's new Planning Director, Gail Goldberg, is now nearly as visible as the city's mayor or chief of police. She is at the beginning of a tough uphill battle to change planning in Los Angeles.
San Francisco's New Light Rail Line Runs Into Trouble
The start of regular service on the city's new light rail line creates major delays for the entire transit system.
New Ballpark Parking Plan Strikes Out
A new zoned parking scheme for Dodger Stadium created frustrated fans during the season opener, but parking experts believe the plan will work once patrons understand the new system.
Brownfields Reuse Success Stories
California's Department of Toxic Substances Control offers 20 case studies of successful reuse of brownfields sites within the state.
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
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
