California
A New Toll Road, A Ruined State Park, And Still No Traffic Relief
In Orange County, California, a proposed toll road may not ease congestion on Interstate 5, as originally intended.
Court Ruling Stalls San Francisco Bike Plan
Running afoul of the state's 1970 landmark environmental law, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), San Francisco's bike plan must undergo a full environmental review, ruled a superior court judge on Nov. 7.
San Francisco To Implement Bus Rapid Transit Service By 2010
While late to adopt bus rapid transit, San Francisco's Muni is planning to bring fully-fledged BRT lines, complete with dedicated lanes, to the city by 2010.
Disneyland Says 'Not In My Backyard'
Park officials in Anaheim, California, are voicing their objections to a proposal to build 1,500 new housing units -- including 200 affordable apartments -- adjacent to the theme park.
Historic Preservation Meets American Idol
Twenty-five historic sites in the San Francisco Bay Area recently vied for $1 million in preservation money through a unique online voting contest.
Novelist Shares His Thoughts On City Planning
In this interview, Author Steven Johnson discusses his lates book about London's Cholera outbreak, urban planning, and his fascination with the popular computer game, SimCity.
Homes Rarely Acquired For Redevelopment In SF Bay Area
According to a survey by the San Francisco Chronicle, redevelopment agencies in the Bay Area and throughout the state very rarely use their powers of eminent domain to take private residences for redevelopment purposes.
Hollywood May Place Green Cap On Freeway
A plan is being pushed to create a 24-acre park in Hollywood by enclosing a half-mile stretch of freeway that runs below the street level.
Environmental And Public Health Advocates Join Sprawl Fee Litigation
In an unusual twist in California's sprawling Central Valley, environmental and public health advocates have joined forces with the local air quality district - an agency they have sued in the past for not doing enough to clean the air.
Legislation To Impose Master Plan Meets Opposition
Supervisors in San Francisco have called on the city to impose the affordable housing standards included in the master plan, a move many in the city's planning department fear will bring development in the city's eastern areas to a halt.
High School Students Enter Planning 101
High school students in Northern California step into the shoes of city planners this fall, as they redesign a fictional neighborhood in a decaying town.
Starchitecture Comes to San Francisco
A design competition for the new Transbay Terminal in San Francisco anticipates only the most high profile international architects to participate.
Ballot Initiative Addresses Need for Smart Growth
The controlled growth initiative in Solano County, California, is one of many currently on the ballot in the Bay Area which aim to promote smart growth.
Prices Keep Rising For Downtown Housing Development
In cities across the country, the trend of downtown housing development is booming. Prices per square-foot have more than doubled since last year in some cities.
California Home Building Permits Drop Sharply
The number of permits issued for new home construction has taken a major downturn in California, where the amount of new home permits has fallen 47% since last year.
Using Density Bonuses To Spur Affordable Housing Development
San Diego is hoping that a new density bonus will encourage developers to build mixed-income housing instead of buying their way out of affordable housing requirements.
Los Angeles Transit 'Consent Decree' Expires
Court oversight of the LAMTA, part of a ten year old settlement of a landmark civil rights lawsuit, will be will end after a federal judge rules that the agency, which has spent more than $1 billion to improve bus service, had complied with the agreement.
When A Neighborhood Vows To Stay Seamy
When an architectural firm decided to locate their office in the Tenderloin District in San Francisco, residents vowed to keep the gritty integrity of their neighborhood from changing.
San Diego's Financial Trouble Hidden For Stadium Deal
Consultants find that city officials held back a glaring report detailing the city's failing finances to clear the way for municipal bond sales for a new downtown baseball stadium.
The 20-Minute Rule: Key To Successful Startups
Why is Silicon Valley the birthplace of successful startups?
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
