California

Yes, Trump Can Recoup the $3.5 Billion Awarded to California High-Speed Rail
The beleaguered project is still very much alive, despite some media claims to the contrary. As for the Trump administration's claim to two grants awarded to the now-$77 billion project, the state has a deadline to meet if it wants to keep them.

Nation's Largest Student Housing Project Breaks Ground
Located at the University of California, Davis, The Green at West Village is set to house nearly 3,300 students. The development includes nine four-story buildings, community space, and recreational fields.

Proposed Law Would Prevent Downzonings in California
A proposed state law, SB 330, would make it remove some local control of land use regulations by making it very difficult to downzone.

High-Speed Rail Galvanized Development in San Francisco's Transbay District
Even as prospects for high-speed trains dim in California, San Francisco's Transbay Transit Center has already spurred a development spree in the surrounding area.

California Bill Would Increase Wastewater Recycling
In California, a billion gallons of water ends up in the ocean every day. A new bill seeks to curb this practice by requiring treatment facilities to increase recycling and reuse efforts.

California's Push to Electrify Its Building Stock
Developers, environmentalists, and other experts discussed the challenge of achieving all-electric homes and businesses at VerdeXchange 2019.

Glendale, California Passes 'Right-to-Lease' Ordinance
To combat displacement, Glendale authorized a new ordinance requiring that landlords offer year-long leases to existing tenants and capping rent hikes.

Climate Action and the Green New Deal: Interview with Rep. Mike Levin
Long before winning the congressional seat in California's 49th District, Mike Levin advocated for clean energy and a green economy.

Berkeley to Study Missing Middle Housing Options for Single-Family Residential Neighborhoods
The city of Berkeley, famed for its radical left politics in the 1960s, is now considered a bastion of anti-development obstructionism. Those politics could be changing, however.

Ride-Hailing Fee on the Table in Los Angeles
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority will decide this week whether or not to proceed with separate studies of two ideas that would generate transportation funding from car trips and potentially influence driver behavior.

A New Player in Planning Los Angeles: Marqueece Harris-Dawson
The new chair of the Planning and Land Use Management committee of the Los Angeles City Council will influence how the city grapples with homelessness, an expanding rail system, and the 2028 Olympics.

A Sprinkle of Stores: Wrestling With Jacobs's Uncertainty
Jane Jacobs used vague terms to describe the number of stores necessary for a safe and vibrant streetscape. Here, author Fanis Grammenos attempts to discover a more specific number to attach to this prescription.

Los Angeles Wants its River Back From the Feds
Regional officials don't think the federal government is doing enough to warrant continued ownership of the Los Angeles River flood control channels that cut a 40-mile path through the city and county.

White House Ends Talks with California Over Fuel Efficiency Standards
Ending the talks means litigation will have to settle the conflict over the two standards: California and 12 other states continue to use the Obama-era standard of 36 mpg by 2025, while the administration's rule freezes standards at 2020, or 29 mpg.

Role of S.F. Parklets as Public Space Not Always Clear
Parklets in San Francisco are available for public use, but often they serve as extensions of the dining rooms of eateries.

Everywhere, Signs of Demise for the Planning Status Quo
The plans, they are a-changin.

Scientists Warn Mega-Storm Could Make 'Lakes' of California Cities
If you live in California, you've heard predictions of a disastrous earthquake dubbed "the big one." Now, scientists are warning of an epic rainstorm that could cause three times as much damage.

In 2018, Autonomous Vehicles Drove 2 Million Miles in California
Autonomous vehicles are racking up quite a track record in California—and fewer of the miles driven by autonomous vehicles in 2018 had humans at the wheel than in 2017.

Trump Administration Targets California High-Speed Rail After Border Wall Lawsuit
The Trump administration has canceled a nearly $1 billion grant assigned to the California high-speed rail project and is attempting to get the state to return the $2.5 billion it has already spent on the $77 billion project.

Momentum Builds for Public Housing in California
A "white supremacist" law that blocks public housing in the state is up for repeal—again.
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