California

Escalating Housing Prices Causes Out-migration

California and other urban, high-priced meccas are seeing a huge jump in out-migration, largely due to escalating home prices. Previously unemployment drove the flight, but now the job market is healthy.

November 9, 2005 - The New York Times

In LA, A Parking Space For $20K

The real estate boom has hit even the parking lot in LA. A new high-rise condo project in downtown Los Angeles offers the opportunity to buy a parking space for $20,000.

November 9, 2005 - The Los Angeles Times

The First Dedicated Busway In The US

Is Los Angeles' new Metro Orange Line -- a dedicated busway -- a 'revolution' for the city? Running the width of the Valley, LA County Supervisor Zez Yaroslavsky calls the line a true innovation in American transit.

November 8, 2005 - The Metro Investment Report

A Brief History Of Downtown Department Stores In Los Angeles

Federated Department plans to consolidate Robinsons-May, leavinh Los Angeles without a major department store headquartered in the city for the first time in more than a century.

November 7, 2005 - Downtown News

Economic Development, MTV-Style

Laguna Beach is the venue for a popular new MTV teen reality show. The community has been catapulted into national prominence, but perhaps not with the image it wants.

November 7, 2005 - The Los Angeles Times

Is L.A.'s New Transit System An Accident Magnet?

The busway -- a unique roadway built like a light rail system -- is causing concern among commuters who say the buses are causing more traffic delays, and accidents.

November 6, 2005 - The Los Angeles Times

Going To Extremes To Use The Carpool Lane

A commuter resorts to creative, but illegal means to use the carpool lane.

November 4, 2005 - Marin Independent Journal

Designing The School Of The Future

A new Los Angele charter school is an incubator for new ideas and new approaches to teaching -- and learning -- technology.

November 4, 2005 - ArchNewsNow

Sierra Club, Homebuilders Unite To Beat Ballot Initiatives

While Sierra Club and Greenbelt Alliance battle developers in the East Bay, the scene is the opposite in the South Bay community of Cupertino, home to Apple Computer. Here, they hold hands opposing 3 restrictive land use measures.

November 1, 2005 - San Jose Mercury News

Will Gehry's Architecture Overshadow L.A.'s Premier Commercial Project?

Frank Gehry is designing a skyscraper for Related's Grand Avenue project in downtown Los Angeles. Critics are concerned his work will be a modernist monstrosity in the middle of a walkable downtown.

November 1, 2005 - The Slatin Report

The Ultimate In Ballot-Box Planning

In Livermore, California, a developer spends $3 million to convince voters to pass a bond measure that would enable the developer to build on 1,400 acres of grassland adjacent to the city.

November 1, 2005 - The Los Angeles Times

Anaheim Jumps On Wireless Bandwagon

Anaheim, CA, home of Disneyland, follows the lead of Philadelphia, and selects EarthLink, Inc. to build a 50-square-mile municipal WiFi network.

October 31, 2005 - Government Computer News

Community Garden Farmers Battle Developer

Developer plans to replace a 14 square mile subsistance farm run by an organization of immigrants with a factory warehouse.

October 31, 2005 - The Daily Trojan

LA Mayor to Seek $1 Billion Housing Bond

Los Angeles' new mayor plans to propose an 'unprecedented investment in housing' for consideration by voters. The measure would likely give planners more more power to increase density in the city.

October 29, 2005 - The Los Angeles Times

New Housing In San Francisco In Conflict With Sustainability

As San Francisco's Mission Bay and other eastern areas sees a burst of new housing and other development, housing activists see massive displacement, especially of African-American residents and businesses.

October 28, 2005 - The San Francisco Bay Guardian

Three Barriers To Density In San Mateo County

The associate director of a non-profit asserts that no-growth policies help increase housing costs.

October 28, 2005 - San Mateo County Times, CA

Orange Line Vs. Red Line: Dedicated Busway Vs. Subway

Will Los Angeles' new Orange Line -- a dedicated busway -- bring the same economic growth to Woodland Hills that the Red Line subway brought to North Hollywood?

October 28, 2005 - The Los Angeles Times

Commuters Turn To Rail, Bus As Gas Prices Soar

San Joaquin County is not part of the Bay Area, but is home to a growing pool of Bay Area workers. The new train service and subscription bus service are seeing substantial ridership gains resulting from $3/gallon gas. Within the Bay Area, ridership is

October 28, 2005 - The Record, Stockton, CA

Permitting Tree Houses

Only in Los Angeles... A posh kids' treehouse in Brentwood inspires the ire of his neighbor who calls in LA's building inspector to shut down construction.

October 27, 2005 - The Los Angeles Times

The Granny Flat Grows Up

Santa Cruz is encouraging infill by offering blueprints for seven prototype accessory dwelling units.

October 27, 2005 - Metropolis Magazine

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.

Associate/Senior Planner

Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development

Senior Planner

Heyer Gruel & Associates PA

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