California
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.
Bruegmann: Urban Myths About Sprawl And Congestion
Robert Bruegmann, author of "Sprawl: A Compact History," writes that traffic congestion is caused not by sprawl but by misconceptions about sprawl.
California's Worst Highways
A Los Angeles Times special report looks at California's crumbling highway system and identifies the state's worst roads.
Convention Center A Bad Investment For Taxpayer Dollars
Los Angeles' recent decision to provide over $300 million in public assistance for a new convention center hotel complex doesn't help the city or the taxpayer, says Joel Kotkin.
A Scathing Rebuke For LA's Building Department?
The Los Angeles City Controller issues a 235-page audit of the city's Department of Building and Safety. While the report appears to be highly critical, a close reading indicates most problems result from chronic understaffing.
Coverage Of Rob Lowe's Mega Mansion Leads To Newspaper Implosion
The wealthy, reclusive owner of the Santa Barbara News-Press rebukes editors for coverage of an article about actor Rob Lowe's petition to build a mega-mansion. It's the latest in a series of problems that leads to an 'editorial bloodbath'.
Ridership Plan May Be Thwarting TOD Plans
Caltrain's ridership has increased since it began its express service, but several cities looking to encourage TOD development are calling for restored local service to all stations.
Intercity Hi-Speed Rail Can Solve California's Traffic Woes
Why Los Angeles Mayor Villaraigosa should join San Francisco Mayor Newsom to push for high-speed rail connecting California's major cities.
Friday Funny: Could A Goldfish Survive In Water From L.A. River?
The Los Angeles Times sets up a Goldfish cam and two goldfish -- Little Antonio and Little Ed -- named after the mayor and a city councilman) to see if fish can live in a tank filled with water from the Los Angeles River.
Push-Pull Commuter Trains OK'd For Now
A bill to ban push-pull commuter trains in California was amended to include an independent study after commuter rail operators and their advocates objected to the costs the ban would impose.
One Of The Last Company Towns In America Is For Sale
Residents of Scotia, CA, hope that their community can retain its unique after the sale.
A Model For Eco-friendly Development
A visionary development plan promises transit villages, solar energy, local farms, water recycling, sensitive architecture, and walkable neighborhoods. Will it be a model for other communities seeking eco-friendly development?
A Month On Nothing But Public Transit In L.A. 'Sucks'
Mariel Garza, columnist for the L.A. Daily news, spent 30 days leaving her car at home and taking the bus for nearly all trips.
Death Of An Urban Farm
When authorities closed down the South Central garden in Los Angeles, the community lost more than an urban farm writes columnist Al Martinez.
'Lofty' Visions For Historic Urban Center
The historic downtown of Santa Ana, CA, is being transformed with lofts, concerts, and an experimental music festival featuring a "carchestra".
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
