Los Angeles

Five Big Ideas About the Future of Transportation and Land Use in Los Angeles
Los Angeles Magazine provided Los Angeles Director of City Planning Vince Bertoni an opportunity to speak in his own words on the ways planners are preparing for the future.

New Community Plan Poises Downtown L.A. for Transformation
In addition to a contemporary vision for Downtown, the plan debuts a new approach to zoning that could help transform the entire city.

Editorial: Ambitious Plans Don't Work Without Political Leadership
The Los Angeles Times critiques the political culture in Los Angeles. In this case, it's the failure of a road diet project that provoked the criticism, but these lessons apply to the city's bicycle plans and homeless housing plans, too.

Worldwide Response to the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics: Skepticism
More than one media outlet praised Los Angeles' optimism for cutting a deal with the International Olympics Committee to host the 2028 Olympics.

How Soccer Is Changing Land Use
Planners are incorporating the growing popularity of soccer into parks and communities, writes L.A. park planner Clement Lau, and not just with soccer fields.
Los Angeles Can't Stick to its Road Diet
A high-profile controversy over a decision by the city of Los Angeles to remove a vehicle lane in either direction has finally come to an end. The vehicle lanes will be restored.

Like City, Like Stadium
Beloved as it is, Dodger Stadium did not come easily to Los Angeles. Its development was fraught with protests, political rivalries, and debates over public investment and urbanism. Those debates continue today.

Coffee With Your Gentrification?
The Los Angeles Times published a pair of incendiary articles this week in which coffee plays an integral role in the conversation about gentrification.

The Secrets of 'Place Making' Success
Some well-meaning urbanists try a place-making-in-a-box approach. Their efforts would resonate more if they took the neighborhood’s history and culture into account.

Venice, California Has Fewer Housing Units Than in 2000
Venice, the famously picturesque neighborhood in Los Angeles, has become a poster child for wealthy urban enclave that has closed its doors to development and new residents—despite a strong local economy.

Owens Valley Calls on Eminent Domain to Buy its Water Back from Los Angeles
Call it a reverse Chinatown.

Expo Line Between L.A. and Santa Monica Hits 2030 Ridership Projections
Finally, good news regarding public transit ridership in Los Angeles, where the Expo Line connection to Santa Monica has very quickly outpaced its projections.

Making the Coast Accessible for Black and Latino Californians
A history of segregation and other barriers have made California's beaches and oceanfront disproportionately white.

L.A. Now Has Real Money for Homelessness but No Real Plan
L.A. has a new bond issue and a new sales tax for homelessness. But Mayor Eric Garcetti and the City Council actions to alleviate homelessness have been tepid and slow. Affordable housing developer and Michael Russell has some suggestions.

New Community Plans for South L.A.
The Los Angeles City Planning Commission has approved new plans for parts of South Los Angeles. A focus on transit-oriented development and commercial revitalization has raised concerns over displacement.

Designing a Multi-Modal, User-Focused TOD Vision for Los Angeles' Expo Line
Facing explosive development interest around its Metro station, the small city of Culver on L.A.’s Westside is taking steps to shape its mobility future.

L.A. Metro Will Spend $81.5 Million to Improve Blue Line to Long Beach
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) appears to be taking a break from its perpetual expansion projects to make some improvements to the heavily used but aging Blue Line.

Climate Change Is Shrinking the Colorado River
Documenting the effects of climate change on the West's most vital source of water.

Los Angeles' New Tower and the Silly Rules That Govern Building Height
Los Angeles' new Wilshire Grand tower is tall and impressive. But, in reality, it's about 100 feet shorter and perhaps less impressive than the arbiters of skyscrapers say it is. Whatever the definition, it might be time to quit venerating height.

New Tallest Building West of the Mississippi Now Open
Friday was the first day the public could walk into Los Angeles' new iconic skyscraper. The Wilshire Grand is noteworthy for more than just its height.
Pagination
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.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
Planetizen
Planetizen
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service