California

Rincon Hill Towers To Change San Francisco's Skyline

San Francisco's skyline is on the verge of a transformation. Long known for landmarks such as the Transamerica Pyramid and Coit Tower, Rincon Hill, near the base of the Bay Bridge, will add a new dimension and a new neighborhood.

June 16, 2006 - The San Francisco Chronicle

Did Landlords Force Out Tenants To Gentrify Apartments?

A lawsuit alleges that landlords harassed tenants and forced them out from rent-controlled buildings in gentrifying neighborhoods.

June 15, 2006 - The Los Angeles Times

Arnold's 'Mean Green Machine'

The contest for California governor may hinge on who is perceived to be the greenest candidate. Schwarzenegger is rolling out a new, green image, but an environmental initiative on the ballot could undermine his message.

June 15, 2006 - Newsweek

The Two Faces Of Gentrification

Hollywood celebrities and gangs, million-dollar luxury homes and the homeless, all live side-by-side in the Oakwood neighborhood of Venice.

June 14, 2006 - The Los Angeles Times

Downtown L.A. To Get Convention Center Hotel

At 54 stories, the $750-million project would feature a five-star hotel, nearly 1,000 rooms, and luxury condominiums. It would be one of the largest buildings in LA.

June 14, 2006 - The Los Angeles Times

Police Bulldoze L.A. Urban Farm, Arrest 40

Police arrest protesters, including celebrities, and forcibly shut down one of the nation's largest urban farms, a 14-acre community garden in South Central Los Angeles.

June 14, 2006 - The Los Angeles Times

Saving the Commons: LA's South Central Farm

The battle over how to protect the nation's largest urban garden from redevelopment has gained international attention. It also caused Joan Baez and Daryl Hannah to sit in a tree.

June 14, 2006 - Grist

Gentrification Driving Out Families From Dense L.A. Neighborhoods

In some of Los Angeles' densest neighborhoods, higher rents and property values have resulted in a drop in school enrollments -- an early indicator that families with children are leaving the urban core.

June 13, 2006 - The Los Angeles Times

Naming Streets In America's Fastest-Growing County

As a planner for Riverside County, California, John Trichak's monumental task is to approve names for new streets in fast-growing unincorporated Riverside County.

June 13, 2006 - The Los Angeles Times

Will Planning Become Central Issue In California Governor Race?

Voters in the Central Valley and other parts of California are fed up with traffic and air pollution. Can Angelides tap into that frustration in his race for governor?

June 13, 2006 - The Sacramento Bee

California County Secession Attempt Fails - Time For Regional Governance?

Political columnist Dan Walters opines on the failure of northern Santa Barbara County to break away and form Mission County. Walters suggests that counties may no longer be relevant and suggests replacing them with regional entities.

June 11, 2006 - The Sacramento Bee

L.A. May Run Partly On Wyoming Wind Power

The Los Angeles power department has approved a contract with a Wyoming wind farm to purchase the equivalent of 1% of the city's annual energy needs. The city council is expected to finalize the contract within weeks.

June 11, 2006 - The Los Angeles Times

Measure 37-like Initiative Defeated In Napa County, California

As with Oregon's Measure 37, a property-rights group sponsored a measure to compensate land owners for losses resulting from county land use decisions. Though defeated, a similar measure, "Protect our Homes", will appear on the November state ballot.

June 10, 2006 - The San Francisco Chronicle

Transportation Taxes, Property Rights Initiatives Lose In California

While many eyes were on the Democratic primary, CP&DR was focused on California's land use ballot measures. Voters said no to sales tax increases for transportation purposes in five central and northern California counties.

June 9, 2006 - California Planning & Development Report

Brownfields to Art Parks

When is a brownfield not a brownfield? When it's transformed by art works, as in two U.S. cities.

June 6, 2006 - The Trust for Public Land

L.A. Stakeholders Perform 'Walk Audit' Downtown

L.A.'s downtown Business Improvement District calls on local business people, property owners, and residents to get stepping in L.A.'s Fashion District, to evaluate the area's walkability. The BID has $1.6 million to make improvements by 2008.

June 5, 2006 - Los Angeles Downtown News

Weighing The Costs And Benefits Of Rooftop Gardens

An upcoming Los Angeles symposium will focus on greening the city's rooftops and overcoming the high implementation costs that have kept gardens off the roofs of skyscrapers.

June 5, 2006 - Los Angeles Downtown News

'Smart Card' Technology Proving Troublesome To Bay Area Transit Operators

Once hailed the transit-pay mechanism of the future, the cards have become one of Bay Area transit's biggest flops. Yet the money keeps flowing while the costs keep rising.

June 4, 2006 - The Contra Costa Times

What's Driving Children Out Of San Francisco?

It's been well documented that San Francisco has few households with children, and locals know that schools are closing because of declining enrollment. Yet pre-schoolers are on the rise -- why are families leaving the city before kindergarten?

June 2, 2006 - The San Francisco Chronicle

Next Generation Business Parks

Turning sprawling office parks into compact transit villages may be solve both congestion and energy issues at once.

May 31, 2006 - The San Francisco Chronicle

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.