California
California Growth Slows As Out-Migration Continues
Far more residents left the Golden State than arrived from other states, but births and foreign in-migration kept the state growing to 37,771,431 residents, with 3/4 of total population increase resulting from births alone.
Transit Fare By Phone?
A new trial in the San Francisco Bay Area has riders using their phone to pay for transit fare.
Will Retiring Baby Boomers Revive The Cohousing Movement?
Cohousing could be the answer for seniors looking for a strong sense of community and support from neighbors as they age.
A 'Green' Manifesto From L.A.'s Mayor
Under the leadership of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, the city of L.A., long infamous for its smog and traffic, has become a leader in many aspects of sustainable urban living.
San Mateo: First California County To Subdivide Housing Need Allocations
"Regional Housing Needs Allocations" are generally dreaded by California cities who resist state mandates to provide affordable housing. Rather than being assigned the requirement by the regional COG, San Mateo's 20 cities chose to do it themselves.
Los Angeles Hopes To Win Federal Grant For 3 HOT Lanes Conversions
The L.A. Metropolitan Transportation Agency hopes to convert carpool lanes on three freeways to variably priced High Occupancy Toll lanes and win a federal grant. But the plan is upsetting carpoolers and hybrid owners who use these lanes for free.
Second Life Used To Solve Real World Engineering Challenges
A UC Irvine professor and a transportation firm are teaming up to use the online virtual world Second Life to test real world public transit ideas.
Housing The Most Vulnerable
Homeless advocates are working in Los Angeles to identify the city's most vulnerable homeless people on Skid Row. With this list the county intends to take a piecemeal approach to housing the city's homeless.
A Look At Redevelopment With and Without Eminent Domain
In this video from Reason, comedian Drew Carey looks at the use of eminent domain in Los Angeles and compares it with the efforts of nearby Anaheim to work with developers and avoid seizing land through eminent domain.
Sacramento's Big Opportunity Needs A Cautious Approach
Plans are moving forward to redevelop a massive railyard site near downtown Sacramento. It could be a major boon for the city, but as California Planning and Development Report's Paul Shigley writes, the city should moved ahead cautiously.
L.A. Considers Rail Turnstiles
As one of the only major U.S. cities that has no turnstiles at its rail stations, Los Angeles is feeling the pinch of riders who don't pay. But now, local officials are trying to get turnstiles installed.
Lawsuit Settlement May Bankrupt City
After denying plans for a subdivision, the city of Half Moon Bay, California, was sued. The city lost and now must pay a settlement of nearly $40 million -- more than three times the city's annual budget. Many worry the city may have to fold.
Long Beach's YouTube Videos Persuade Residents to Conserve Water
The city of Long Beach, California has initiated a water conservation campaign, including YouTube videos. As a result, residential water use rates have hit record lows.
Anaheim Plans To Remake Its Sports District Into Highrise Urban Village
Anaheim (Orange County, CA) has big plans: 20,000 urban infill homes planned for their sports district. While the zoning change passed the council on a 4-1 vote, developers will wait for the housing market to recover.
Architecture And The City: A Changing Relationship
On the 10th anniversary of Getty Center art museum in Los Angeles, architecture critic Christopher Hawthorne examines how architecture and its relationship with the city have changed over the past decade.
San Francisco Commuters Cozy Up To Double-Decker Buses
Recent test runs of double decker buses as part of San Francisco's Muni system have been well-received by riders, and many expect them to be fully adopted into the system in 2008.
Business Carbon Tax Proposed In San Francisco
A ballot measure aimed for November 2008 will ask San Francisco voters to raise the commercial utilities tax and lower the city's payroll tax in an effort to reduce energy usage, increase use of public transit, and increase recycling.
Planners And Developers Have Grand Visions For Empty Land in L.A.
Planning has begun for a 400-acre plot of land near downtown Los Angeles, and expectations are high.
Creativity Needed To Solve L.A.'s Traffic Problems
This piece from the Los Angeles Times takes a look at two big ideas for fixing L.A.'s congestion: subway and monorail.
States Dependent On Colorado River Water Agree On Plan
The seven western states dependent on the Colorado River for their water are on the verge of coming to an agreement on a management plan to ensure a steady supply of water from the increasingly stressed source. But some say the plan won't do enough.
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
