California

A conceptual rendering of a large development including two high-rises and several smaller buildings.

Skyline-Shifting Development Approved in Los Angeles

The Downtown Los Angeles-adjacent neighborhood of Echo Park is set to get its first towers—including one new building reaching 49 stories.

July 8, 2022 - Los Angeles Times

Vacant boarded-up storefronts along Powell Street in San Francisco, California.

The Demographics of San Francisco’s Pandemic Urban Exodus

New Census data break down San Francisco’s population losses during the first year-plus of the pandemic by race and age.

July 8, 2022 - San Francisco Chronicle

COVID-19 Eviction Crisis

Almost 36,000 California Households Got Eviction Notices Last Year

Despite efforts to implement rental assistance programs and eviction moratoriums during the COVID-19 pandemic, tens of thousands of California households were served eviction notices last year, with more falling behind on rent payments.

July 7, 2022 - San Francisco Chronicle

Vacant boarded-up storefronts along Powell Street in San Francisco, California.

Bay Area Pop-Ups Aim To Activate Vacant Storefronts

As commercial storefronts experience high vacancy rates, cities like Oakland and San Francisco are making concerted efforts to support temporary tenants, public art installations, and small entrepreneurs that can revitalize abandoned spaces.

July 7, 2022 - San Francisco Chronicle

20 miles per hour speed limit sign in school zone

San Jose Begins Lowering Speed Limits

Thanks to a state bill, California cities can reduce speed limits on city streets by 5 miles per hour to improve traffic safety.

July 6, 2022 - San José Spotlight

Bakersfield and Fresno Sign

California Budget Includes $4.2 Billion for High-Speed Rail

The recently approved state budget directs $4.2 billion in bond funding to the Bakersfield-to-Merced leg of California’s long-awaited high-speed rail project.

July 5, 2022 - Sfist

Rendering of inflatable floating water park in Long Beach, California.

Long Beach Opens New Water Playground

The coastal city just celebrated the grand opening of its newest beach attraction, an inflatable aquatic playground called the “Wibit.”

July 5, 2022 - Signal Tribune

View looking down on construction of multiple buildings in San Francisco's Transbay Transit Center District

San Francisco to Reconsider Inclusionary Zoning as Development Slows to a Crawl

Critics of inclusionary zoning frequently point to San Francisco as an example of what not to do. A sluggish year of development has some local politicians ready to reconsider the city’s program.

July 4, 2022 - San Francisco Chronicle

110-10 Interchange

California Senate Committee Kills Freeway Expansion Bill

The proposed legislation would have prohibited new construction in historically underserved areas that often bear the burnt of the negative impacts of freeways.

July 4, 2022 - Streetsblog California

Two-story housing in Sacramento, California

Sacramento Households Hit Hard by Evictions

With pandemic-era renter protections ending and rents rising by close to 20 percent, renters in Sacramento are finding it harder to afford housing in the region.

July 1, 2022 - The Sacramento Bee

Central Los Angeles

California Approves Revised Los Angeles Housing Element

State officials officially approved the city’s housing plan, which was initially rejected for not doing enough to enhance housing equity.

June 30, 2022 - Urbanize LA

Nighttime view of empty gas station

Biden Proposes Gas Tax Holiday to Reduce Gas Prices

President Biden asked Congress on June 22 to suspend federal fuel taxes, unchanged since 1993, for three months to provide motorists 'relief' at the pump. Additionally, he asked states to follow suit and for oil companies to increase refining.

June 30, 2022 - Smart Cities Dive

Car Traffic

San Francisco Just Ended Single-Family Zoning

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted to Tuesday to eliminate single-family zoning, but pro-development advocates say additional changes are needed to unleash a wave of construction.

June 29, 2022 - San Francisco Chronicle

San Diego Harbor

Seeking Public Input to Improve and Expand Waterfront Park in San Diego

The Port of San Diego is engaging the public to gather additional feedback on the latest draft design for the National City Bayfront’s Pepper Park.

June 28, 2022 - The Log

A Gold Line AnsaldoBreda P2550 train enters Mission Station in South Pasadena on February 25, 2012.

Land Banking to Prevent Transit-Oriented Displacement in Los Angeles

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) will implement a new land banking program to mitigate gentrification and displacement around future transit lines.

June 28, 2022 - Los Angeles Daily News

A view of the Pacific Ocean and California coastline from high in the Santa Monica Mountains.

Preserving More Hillside Land for Conservation and Biodiversity

The Los Angeles City Council recently approved an ordinance giving the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy first right of refusal to purchase any surplus hillside land owned by the city so it can be preserved.

June 27, 2022 - Beverly Press

Rendering of inclusive Courtney's Playground

The Importance of Inclusive Playgrounds

The first fully inclusive playground in the Antelope Valley in Los Angeles County features full, accessible rubber surfacing and activities accessible to children of all abilities.

June 27, 2022 - The Antelope Valley Times

Thermometer infront of blurred image of street during heat wave

New Tool to Understand Heat Vulnerability and Resilience in California

The California Healthy Places Index: Extreme Heat Edition is a tool which provides datasets on projected heat exposure for California, including place-based indicators measuring community conditions and sensitive populations.

June 27, 2022 - UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs

A privately owned public space at 555 Mission Street with large sculptures and benches.

The Return of San Francisco’s Privately Owned Public Spaces

In San Francisco, you can find respite from city life in some unexpected places—if you know where to look.

June 26, 2022 - The San Francisco Chronicle

Cruise Ships

California Coastal Commission Nixes Parking Reforms Intended to Spur ADUs in San Diego

Environmental causes run into conflict with zoning reforms intended for environmental benefit once again, as the California Coastal Commission requires San Diego to reinstate parking requirements for ADUs.

June 23, 2022 - OB Rag

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.

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.