California
California's Prop. 90 and Its Impact On Redevelopment
Prop. 90 looks like a simple anti-Kelo bill...until you get to the part about regulatory takings. Officials in Los Angeles are waiting with baited breath to see if the proposition passes.
Streetcar Museum Comes To San Francisco
A new transportation museum celebrating the streetcar has opened in San Francisco, fittingly opposite the ferry building where they once took commuters from the East and North Bay ferries down Market Street.
A Million Trees For The 'Dirtiest Big City'
The City of Los Angeles has launched a program to plant one million trees over the next several years in an effort to naturally clean the city's air. Due to its smog, L.A. was recently reported as being one of the dirtiest cities in America.
Re-Defining Diversity
City planners in Santa Ana, California, a predominantly Mexican enclave, want diversity among types of businesses downtown to attract upscale shoppers, but Mexican business owners claim it's another form of gentrification.
'Liar's Loans' Could Trigger Wave Of Home Foreclosures
Experts believe increasing reports of suspicious loan activity and mortgage fraud could have serious consequences for Southern California's already slowing housing market.
Take The Bus To Bloomingdales
The new Westfield San Francisco Centre, billed as the largest urban shopping center west of the Mississippi, opened on September 28 -- without parking.
Riverside Considers Sweeping Capital Improvements Plan
The city plans to fund and complete approximately 20-30 years' worth of projects in as little as 5 years.
Second Homes In Tahoe Basin Force Out Local Workforce
As more wealthy Bay Area residents purchase second homes to vacation in the Tahoe basin, long-time residents and workers find themselves priced-out, moving to less expensive, rural Nevada and commuting long distances, or out of the area entirely.
How To Really Fix L.A.'s Skid Row
Joel John Roberts looks to Hong Kong for a solution to Los Angeles' homelessness problem.
Environmental Role Reversal In California Politics
In an unusual role reversal, Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger has Democrat Phil Angelides on the defensive on environmental issues. Republicans in other states are also using the environment to appeal to voters.
When $5 Billion Is A Bargain
If Los Angeles is to finally get its subway to the sea, local officials will need a new definition of cost-efficiency, argues the L.A. Times.
A New Model For The Vertical Mall
A new high-rise mall on San Francisco's Market Street may provide a model for reviving other downtown shopping districts.
California 'Coconut House' McMansion Wins AIA Award
Architectural award bestowed upon an eco-friendly California McMansion in a neighborhood of bungalows.
California Enacts America's First Cap On Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Gov. Schwarzenegger, flanked by New York Gov. Pataki, and British Prime Minister Tony Blair by telecast, signed the landmark global warming emissions bill, AB 32, making California the first state to place a cap on greenhouse gas emissions.
Smart Growth Threatens City's Character
Pasadena residents say new denser mixed-use development is threatening the character of the city.
Farmland Divided In Central California
2,800 acres of Central California farmland has been effectively split into a collection of 40-acre parcels, all of which have been zoned to contain up to two residential units. Many in the nearby community are upset at the loss of farmland.
Downtown Shopping Malls Are Ripe For Expansion
Bloomingdale's opening in San Francisco on Sept. 28 is just another sign of major retailers investing in downtowns despite the higher costs.
California's Not As Green As It Thinks It Is
The state with the most wind-generated energy is not California but Texas. Notwithstanding all its headline-making, landmark laws, renewable energy has increased a mere 1% in 4 years. The obstacles appear to lay more in bureaucracy than technology.
L.A. Taxi Riders Pay More For The Ride
Inspectors found an unusually high rate of fraud, but taxi drivers and owners challenge the findings, citing the small sample size.
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
