California
San Francisco Keep Tabs on Residents' Trash to Clean Up the City's Diversion Rate
Mark Andrew Boyer looks at the work of San Francisco's "municipal cart auditors" a team of city employed trash diggers who scour the city's cans for scofflaw sorters as part of a broader effort to become 100-percent "waste-free" by 2020.
Watts Towers Rehab Has Broader Relevance
For years, the Watts Towers have suffered from problems small and large: bits of decorative glass and pottery falling to the ground; cracks snaking their way through the structures and growing longer over time. A new effort aims for lasting fixes.
Apple's New $5 Billion Campus: Steve Jobs's Last Success or Failure?
With a footprint estimated as 2.8 million square feet, and a budget said to be approaching $5 billion, Apple's new corporate campus is certain to make a statement. But as investors grow restless over falling share prices, just what will it say?
Merger of L.A.'s Planning Department Looking Increasingly Likely
Long rumored plans to merge L.A.'s Department of City Planning with Building and Safety to cut costs and streamline permitting are coming into focus, as the outgoing mayor tries to push through the reforms before he leaves office.
Proposed Bills Could Protect California Farmland by Containing Sprawl
Sprawling development and alternative energy projects are a growing threat to California's productive farmland. Susie Cagle discusses how two bills "could give a boost to California agriculture big and small," while reining in sprawl.
What Killed L.A.'s Streetcars?
Local lore, and Hollywood movies, have it that a conspiracy by car companies led to the dismantling of L.A.'s sprawling streetcar system to induce dependence on newly built freeways. Eric Molinsky tells the real, but no less dramatic, story.
Could Colored Pavement Cool Our Cities?
More than a third of the land in our cities is covered by black asphalt, an exemplary heat trapping surface and major contributor to the urban heat island effect. Researchers at Lawrence Berkeley Lab are studying "cool pavement" alternatives.
Santa Clara's Smart Solution for Providing Free Wi-Fi
The city of Santa Clara is piggybacking on the installation of connected, smart utility meters to blanket the city in a publicly accessible, free, wireless network.
Inspiring Ideas for Solving L.A.'s Biggest Challenges
With 279 submissions received, the pubic voting period has begun for determining who will receive the $1,000,000 in grants being awarded to improve the quality of life in Los Angeles along eight key indicators.
6 Keys to a Better Life in L.A. - On Foot
Traversing Los Angeles without a car can be a pain compared to cities like New York or Boston. But avowed "foot soldier" Alissa Walker offers 6 simple ways to live a healthier, happier, and wealthier life in Los Angeles simply by ditching the car.
Is This America's Next Great Train Station?
Remember this past week when we asked where America's next generation of grand transit hubs would be built? It turns out one may be destined for San Francisco.
Santa Monica Battles Itself, and Consultants, Over Parking
In this supposed progressive paradise, the recent removal of a transportation consultant reveals the conflicting agendas of residents that want to reduce congestion and those who want to build more parking. Then there are those that want both.
Mired in a Sea of Parking, Dodger Stadium Architects Design a More Urbane Experience
In renovating Dodger Stadium to enhance the fan experience, the baseball team's ownership brought together a team of architects and planners known for integrating stadiums into the urban fabric of their surroundings.
Why S.F.'s Parking Requirements May Cause Your Building to Crumble in an Earthquake
1960s and 70s era Dingbat buildings, which are common in many California cities, may be hazardous to more than just your design sensibilities. Their much-loathed parking-oriented designs can make buildings especially vulnerable to earthquakes.
Controversial Hollywood Towers Go Before Planning Commission
The mayor and city planning department's vision of a taller, denser, and more transit-oriented Hollywood is facing stiff community opposition as a proposal for a $664 million, two-skyscraper complex goes before L.A.'s Planning Commission.
Freight Movement Drives Rail Resurgence
Freight rail is booming throughout the U.S. While shipping oil from North Dakota's Bakken shale basin has been a huge factor in the resurgence, Betsy Morris digs deeper and analyzes the surprising competition between road and rail.
Unique Bay Area Bike Share Program Launching this Summer
Set to launch this summer with 700 bikes at 70 locations from San Jose to San Francisco, the pilot bike-share program run by Alta Bike Share will be the first regional program in the country, reports Molly Schremmer.
Examining L.A.'s Dirty Zoning Secrets
To celebrate its 50th post, Jeremy Rosenberg has handed over the reins of his "Laws That Shape L.A." column. The focus of this week's guest feature: the special overlays and site-specific designations that cover 60 percent of the city's geography.
Proposed 'Bike Freeway' in S.F. Faces Backlash
At a raucous community meeting held last week, the opposition to a proposal to replace curbside parking along Polk Street with bike lanes and parklets made their opinions known to city planners, reports Maria L. La Ganga.
Cycle Tracks and Bus Only Lanes Coming to Downtown L.A.
The updated designs for an ambitious project to remake car-clogged Figueroa Street as a transit-, pedestrian-, and bicycle-friendly complete street have been made public in advance of a community meeting next month.
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
