California

Extreme Pressure Building Along California's San Andreas Fault

New research in Nature indicates that conditions are right for a 100-mile stretch of California's San Andreas Fault to release pressure that has been building.

June 30, 2006 - Scientific American

How To Fix Urban School Design And Development

Former California State Architect Steven Castellanos outlines the changes that would be required to change how schools are designed and built if they are to become centers of communities.

June 29, 2006 - New Schools, Better Neighborhoods

City Chooses Economic Development Over Environment

Planning commissioners in the City of Tracy cite a CEQA provision as they choose the environmentally un-friendly alternative -- a sprawling subdivision of 500 new homes.

June 29, 2006 - Tracy Press

San Diego Prefers Transit To Highways

An independent review panel of experts has challenged the transportation aims of the San Diego Association of Governments, saying it has focused too much on auto-oriented development and is essentially promoting sprawl.

June 29, 2006 - The San Diego Union-Tribune

Californians To Vote On Property Rights Initiative In November

"Kelo" comes to California on Nov. 7 when voters will consider the "Protect Our Homes" initiative. Having qualified for the ballot, the initiative may sharply restrict local government's ability to regulate land use, similar to Oregon's Measure 37.

June 29, 2006 - San Francisco Chronicle

Los Angeles Recruits 'Dense' Talent At AIA Convention

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's quest for "elegant density" brings him to the annual convention of the American Institute of Architects, where he emphasizes his commitment to high-quality urban design.

June 28, 2006 - The Planning Report

California Dreaming: Why The Golden State Still Lures Newcomers

Even with high real estate prices, traffic congestion, wildfires, and the possibility of a major earthquake, people from around the world and across the nation, continue to relocate to California. Why?

June 27, 2006 - Abhijeet Chavan

The Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Bloggers

Northern California's Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) is the subject of a wide variety of blogs, which chronicle the good, the bad, and the, well, ugly.

June 27, 2006 - The Contra Costa Times

Stockton Leaves Its Crime-Ridden Past Behind

Once rife with crime, Stockton is taking baby steps towards reducing the crime rate and attracting development to one of the Central Valley's burgeoning population centers.

June 27, 2006 - The Los Angeles Times

Environmental Law Halts Bike Plan In San Francisco

A 1970 environmental law, the California Environmental Quality Act, was used to temporarily halt San Francisco's bike plan from being implemented. The law ensures environmental review of projects that plaintiff's felt was inadequate for the plan.

June 26, 2006 - The San Francisco Chronicle

Understanding Gentrification In San Francisco

Randy Shaw counters the San Francisco Chronicle's analysis of gentrification in San Francisco.

June 26, 2006 - BeyondChron

Developing The Un-Park In San Francisco's Presidio

A stream of high-dollar developments have been popping up in San Francisco's Presidio, a former Army base and currently the only park in the National Park Service's collection that is operated privately. Some feel the developments don't fit the site.

June 23, 2006 - The San Francisco Chronicle

Urban Gentrification Typifies Growing Economic Polarization

A snapshot of urban gentrification in San Francisco shows what is happening throughout the U.S., according to a new Brookings Report. The middle class is not only losing ground, but entire neighborhoods, and the consequences are far-reaching.

June 23, 2006 - The San Francisco Chronicle

How The Automobile Changed Southern California

Los Angeles Times Special Commemorative Edition looks at how cars have defined the culture and identity of Southern California.

June 22, 2006 - The Los Angeles Times

Radio Report Looks At Improving L.A. River

From increasing riverside parks to removing the concrete riverbed, many ideas for improving the Los Angeles River have been simmering for years. This radio report introduces many in the city who are calling on planners to revive the forgotten river.

June 22, 2006 - Living on Earth

Building Industry Blames Onerous Regulations For Housing Shortage

In the second of two reports, the California Building Industry Association asserts that "red tape and regulations", primarily the California Environmental Quality Act, prevent builders from meeting housing demand and boosting the state's economy.

June 20, 2006 - The Contra Costa Times

Mountain House, A New City, Builds Up

Eventually, 44,000 residents will call Mountain House home. Currently, about 4,000 people live in the much-fretted-over planned development.

June 20, 2006 - The Contra Costa Times

Comparing A Manhattan Landmark With L.A.'s Grand Avenue Project

The Frank Gehry-designed Grand Avenue project in downtown Los Angeles looks to a well-known Manhattan urban landmark for inspiration. Will it work?

June 19, 2006 - Abhijeet Chavan

Top L.A. Building Official Brought To Court In Orange County

A controversial home remodel has generated a difficult situation for Andrew Adelman, general manager of the L.A. Department of Building and Safety, who approved a project later found by a judge to violate the city's own zoning laws.

June 18, 2006 - The Los Angeles Times

Why High Speed Rail Shouldn't Ride In California

Wendell Cox weighs the true costs over the reported costs of creating a high speed train system for cities between San Diego and Sacramento. He offers opposition to a very expensive and likely underused project.

June 16, 2006 - Orange County Register

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.