California
Study Shows Shelter Reduces Costs
A four-year study by United Way of Greater Los Angeles has shown that stable housing provides benefits to taxpayers as well as the homeless.
Greywater Guerrillas
The California Building Standards Commission recently okayed the use of greywater (slightly dirty water from tubs, washing machines, etc.) to be used for irrigation. They were catching up on a revolution 20 years in the making.
First Fast Food, Now South L.A. Looks to Ban Convenience Stores
Community activists are calling for a ban on new convenience stores in South Los Angeles, a lower income part of town that saw a ban on new fast food restaurants last year.
Harmonizing New and Old in Infill
John King visits the new Taube Koret Campus for Jewish Life in Palo Alto, which he sees as an example of the challenges of infill development.
Food Deserts in Los Angeles
A coalition of community groups in L.A. has banded together to address the lack of access to healthy food in sections of East and South Central Los Angeles.
Fast Food Ban Doesn't Trim the Fat
A ban on new fast food restaurants in South Los Angeles which was put in place last year has been found to play little role in reducing obesity in the area, according to a new report from the Rand Corporation.
Safety and Gender in Los Angeles
Enci Box's personal account of how gender, safety, and living car-free intersect in her daily transportation decisions.
A Look Through The Lens of Julius Shulman
'Visual Acoustics' is a new documentary about the 'vibrant' Mr. Shulman, the photographer of modernist homes who captured the ethos and energy of the Los Angeles modern architecture movement.
Demystifing the Development Process
The L.A. City Planning Commission president and architect, Bill Roschen, talks about how the commission is implementing clear and consistent policies toward their goal of "Doing Real Planning" in Los Angeles.
Raided CA Transit Funding May Return
The California Supreme Court upheld a lower court ruling that funding for bus and train service could not be taken for other uses.
Modern Architecture Now Officially 'Old'
Passing the 50-year threshold means that buildings can be considered for historic preservation. Starting in 2010, that means the architecture of the 1960s is coming up for consideration. The Los Angeles Conservancy is gearing up with a new website.
Anti-Graffiti Coating To Be Required on L.A. Buildings
The Los Angeles City Council has unanimously approved a measure that will require an anti-graffiti coating on all new buildings in the city.
Big Plans in the O.C.
Ken Smith won an international design competition to turn a 1,300 acre former military base in Orange County, CA into an urban park to rival Central Park in NY. His plan is ambitious, and could be sunk by politics and finances.
Traversing LA One Bus At A Time
A Wall St. Journal reporter takes a five-day sightseeing trip to Los Angeles, sans rental car. Getting the Getty Villa and Watts Towers were two of the more challenging forays.
Creating Neighborhood Capital from Strip Malls
Strip malls are in virtually every American city, but they're rarely an important part of those cities. Ava Bromberg says they can be. Her idea is to turn strip malls into community-owned hubs that generate capital within their neighborhood and keep it there.
Billboards: Problem, or Solution?
In San Francisco, the mid-Market St. area has struggled for decades with blighted conditions. An area property owner thinks that digital billboards could solve the problem, and has put a proposition on the local ballot to get them built.
David Byrne (Hearts) Bikes
Musician David Byrne gathered a panel of planners and cyclists for a spirited conversation in San Francisco about the joys of urban cycling.
A World-Class Waterfront Once Again
San Pedro, a port city near Los Angeles, is looking to boost its image with a 1.2 billion dollar makeover. Plans include a promenade, a cruise terminal, and a vibrant commercial district and could take up to 10 years.
L.A. Supergraphics Ban Upheld
A federal judge has allowed a citywide ban on new digital billboards and building-sized supergraphics to continue.
Drought Policy and Flooding Streets in LA
While residents ration water for lawn-watering, Los Angeles has experienced double the breaks in water mains as in previous years. The breaks have destroyed streets and flooded businesses, leaving many looking for answers.
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
