California
'Scripted Neighborhoods' By A Developer Who Defines Our Time
Do great civic spaces evolve or can they be invented? A look at the impact of "Disney-esque' developer Rick Caruso, the creator of The Grove, a successful retail complex in Los Angeles.
Iconic Hippie Neighborhood At Gentrification Crossroads
Ex-hippies-turned-homeowners and younger drifters have different expectations from San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury neighborhood.
Urban Parks: For Nature Or People?
After a devastating fire, competing visions emerge for restoring Los Angeles' Griffith Park, one of the largest urban parks in the nation.
California Farmland Mitigation Policies Grow
Cities and counties in California's Central Valley are starting to adopt policies to offset the development of farmland. The new policies require developers to fund or purchase agricultural conservation easements.
California Wine Country Develops Resort Status
The Northern California wine country town of Napa is on its way to becoming a high-class resort, with many housing and resort developers breaking ground on big projects.
After Kelo: New Challenges To Eminent Domain Abuse
New Kelo-fighting measures make their way to ballots.
City And School At Odds Over Massive North San Jose Redevelopment Plan
North San Jose's redevelopment plan calls for 32,000 apartments and 7 million sq.ft of industry along the light rail line, but demand for the latter has dropped. Now the school district wants 4 new schools while the city insists only 1 is necessary.
Climate Protection & Land Use: California Begins To Address The Connection
Land use is finally being addressed in California as an intrinsic part of the state's global warming reduction strategy, thanks to passage of the Global Warming Solutions Act and a recent lawsuit by the attorney general against a sprawling county.
Berkeley's Green Blueprint
Strict guidelines have been proposed in Berkeley, California, that would require local residents and businesses to make broad energy efficiency improvements and to make other environmentally-conscious lifestyle changes.
Collaborating For Greener, Healthier Cities
For 37 years, L.A.-based non-profit TreePeople has advocated an enlightened method of community and governmental engagement to create healthier urban ecosystems and built environments.
Veteran Architect Jan Van Tilburg Evaluates Los Angeles
Having watched L.A. evolve for over three decades, architect Jan van Tilburg has dedicated himself to producing the high-quality, dense, multi-unit housing that the city desperately needs.
Fare Hikes And Service Cuts For Bus Riders In Chicago
Facing large budget deficits, the Chicago Transit Authority has announced plans to raise fares and cut service.
Los Angeles Increases Transit Fares
After a heated public hearing that drew 1,500 people, the LAMTA board approved a compromise proposal that will increase fares, though less than originally planned.
Global Warming Regulation Warms Up In California
State agencies in California are starting to review projects based on their greenhouse gas contributions, an approach that may conflict with the state's energy policy.
Slow Food & Urban Density
The Slow Food movement has lessons for giving cities a humane density.
Can Google Set the Standard for Corporate 'Green' Building Practices?
New publication VerdeXchange offers an interview with Google's Director of Corporate Environmental Programs about the company's efforts to transform its campus into a greener workplace and the future model of corporate environmentalism.
Innovative Bike-Transit Concepts That Work
Bike lanes are the wrong approach that end up marginalizing cyclists argues Will Campbell.
City Struggles With Density Issue In Fighting Global Warming
Menlo Park, California, struggles with the compatibility of being green and fighting climate change, while resisting high density housing, even around transit stations and corridors.
Prefabricated Homes Attracting Buyers At Both Ends Of The Housing Spectrum
Many modern day manufactured homes have upgraded their looks, attracting both buyers looking for value as well as style and sustainability.
Historic Rail Corridor Dilemma: Rails to Trails or Rails?
Rail buffs hope to run a tourist train on an unused rail line in the Sierra foothills outside of Sacramento, but there are concerns that it would prevent the corridor from being used as a recreational trail for hikers, bikers and equestrians.
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
