California

Dan Walters reported over the weekend that recent efforts to appease various constituencies nervous about CA's HSR plans have paid off with the project likely to get the green light from the Legislature soon. But don't book your tickets just yet.

March 27, 2012 - The Sacramento Bee

Patricia Kirk profiles Dave Goldstein, a Los Angeles native on a mission to preserve, restore, and rent historic residences throughout Hollywood.

March 24, 2012 - Urban Land

Bruce Katz of the Brookings Institute explains the importance of exports to a metro region's economy. As the US Federal Government remains politically frozen, how can American cities grow economically by fostering trade partnerships across the world?

March 23, 2012 - The Planning Report

Christopher Hawthorne reports on a just announced initiative by the Getty Conservation Institute to finance research into innovative solutions to the technical challenges unique to the preservation of modern architecture.

March 23, 2012 - Los Angeles Times

The Sacramento, California, region may be witnessing a minor planning miracle: a regional sustainability plan lauded by developers, environmentalists, and civic officials alike.

March 22, 2012 - California Planning & Development Report

The search for an available parking space in most busy downtowns can be frustrating, especially when the motorist insists on parking for free. For those cities that do charge for parking, can a variable price free-up spaces? SF hopes to prove so.

March 21, 2012 - The New York Times - U.S.

Looking back on the remarkable transformation of urban life in New York during Mayor Bloomberg's administration, William Menking wonders what the next mayor will do to support design and planning in the city.

March 21, 2012 - The Architect's Newspaper

Ever wonder why Los Angeles looks the way it does? Jeremy Rosenberg examines 1908's Residence District Ordinance as one of the principal culprits in the newest addition to the "Laws That Shaped L.A." series.

March 21, 2012 - KCET Departures

Google is big business in Mountain View, but it's located in a cul-de-sac business park two miles from the city's transit center. "Personal rapid transit" may be the answer to solving the company's commuting challenges.

March 20, 2012 - California Planning & Development Report

John King writes about an ambitious new regional plan for the Bay Area that looks to accommodate the 1.1 million new jobs and 2.1 million new residents expected by 2040, with relatively little suburban sprawl.

March 20, 2012 - San Francisco Chronicle

Within the last six months, two forward thinking American cities have created new positions for Chief Innovation Officers, with a mission to connect city hall with a new generation of problem-solvers outside of it, reports Emily Badger.

March 19, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

Unlike the prior generation of tech executives who spent their lavish earnings on wealthy neighborhoods and Silicon Valley suburbs, a new generation of dot-com profiteers are driving up housing costs in grittier parts of San Francisco.

March 19, 2012 - The Wall Street Journal

The bicycle rights movement is on the rise as two new California laws give bike riders more equality on the road, reports Eric Jaffe.

March 16, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

Nate Berg reports on the efforts of one Bay Area business owner to get his city to upgrade its internet infrastructure by investing his own money.

March 15, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

With rapidly increasing gaps between costs and funding, the transit systems serving the San Francisco bay area are on an unsustainable path. Egon Terplan offers six solutions to ensure they serve bay area residents long into the future.

March 15, 2012 - Streetsblog SF

Bills would permit cities and counties to create joint powers authorities to replace redevelopment agencies and require long-term real estate investment plans.

March 15, 2012 - www.cp-dr.com

In the frenzied hunt for new revenue streams, municipal authorities are getting creative in capitalizing on their assets. Nate Berg follows the example of Sacramento, who is considering privatizing its parking meters to pay for a new sports arena.

March 14, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

Ambitious plans to remake considerable portions of San Francisco's Waterfront in preparation for the America’s Cup yacht race, to be staged in the city in 2013, have been significantly scaled back, reports George Calys

March 13, 2012 - The Architect's Newspaper

With more than 600 cities in the U.S. developing or having enacted formal climate plans, Nate Berg investigates disconcerting new findings that show a lack of any causal connection between greenhouse gas reductions and climate action plans.

March 13, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

After decades spent redeveloping Hollywood's starring attractions along Hollywood and Sunset Boulevards, its alleyways are the focus of an on-going beautification effort, reports Jessica Gelt.

March 12, 2012 - Los Angeles Times