California
Intercity Hi-Speed Rail Can Solve California's Traffic Woes
Why Los Angeles Mayor Villaraigosa should join San Francisco Mayor Newsom to push for high-speed rail connecting California's major cities.
Friday Funny: Could A Goldfish Survive In Water From L.A. River?
The Los Angeles Times sets up a Goldfish cam and two goldfish -- Little Antonio and Little Ed -- named after the mayor and a city councilman) to see if fish can live in a tank filled with water from the Los Angeles River.
Push-Pull Commuter Trains OK'd For Now
A bill to ban push-pull commuter trains in California was amended to include an independent study after commuter rail operators and their advocates objected to the costs the ban would impose.
One Of The Last Company Towns In America Is For Sale
Residents of Scotia, CA, hope that their community can retain its unique after the sale.
A Model For Eco-friendly Development
A visionary development plan promises transit villages, solar energy, local farms, water recycling, sensitive architecture, and walkable neighborhoods. Will it be a model for other communities seeking eco-friendly development?
A Month On Nothing But Public Transit In L.A. 'Sucks'
Mariel Garza, columnist for the L.A. Daily news, spent 30 days leaving her car at home and taking the bus for nearly all trips.
Death Of An Urban Farm
When authorities closed down the South Central garden in Los Angeles, the community lost more than an urban farm writes columnist Al Martinez.
'Lofty' Visions For Historic Urban Center
The historic downtown of Santa Ana, CA, is being transformed with lofts, concerts, and an experimental music festival featuring a "carchestra".
Extreme Pressure Building Along California's San Andreas Fault
New research in Nature indicates that conditions are right for a 100-mile stretch of California's San Andreas Fault to release pressure that has been building.
How To Fix Urban School Design And Development
Former California State Architect Steven Castellanos outlines the changes that would be required to change how schools are designed and built if they are to become centers of communities.
City Chooses Economic Development Over Environment
Planning commissioners in the City of Tracy cite a CEQA provision as they choose the environmentally un-friendly alternative -- a sprawling subdivision of 500 new homes.
San Diego Prefers Transit To Highways
An independent review panel of experts has challenged the transportation aims of the San Diego Association of Governments, saying it has focused too much on auto-oriented development and is essentially promoting sprawl.
Californians To Vote On Property Rights Initiative In November
"Kelo" comes to California on Nov. 7 when voters will consider the "Protect Our Homes" initiative. Having qualified for the ballot, the initiative may sharply restrict local government's ability to regulate land use, similar to Oregon's Measure 37.
Los Angeles Recruits 'Dense' Talent At AIA Convention
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's quest for "elegant density" brings him to the annual convention of the American Institute of Architects, where he emphasizes his commitment to high-quality urban design.
California Dreaming: Why The Golden State Still Lures Newcomers
Even with high real estate prices, traffic congestion, wildfires, and the possibility of a major earthquake, people from around the world and across the nation, continue to relocate to California. Why?
The Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Bloggers
Northern California's Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) is the subject of a wide variety of blogs, which chronicle the good, the bad, and the, well, ugly.
Stockton Leaves Its Crime-Ridden Past Behind
Once rife with crime, Stockton is taking baby steps towards reducing the crime rate and attracting development to one of the Central Valley's burgeoning population centers.
Environmental Law Halts Bike Plan In San Francisco
A 1970 environmental law, the California Environmental Quality Act, was used to temporarily halt San Francisco's bike plan from being implemented. The law ensures environmental review of projects that plaintiff's felt was inadequate for the plan.
Understanding Gentrification In San Francisco
Randy Shaw counters the San Francisco Chronicle's analysis of gentrification in San Francisco.
Developing The Un-Park In San Francisco's Presidio
A stream of high-dollar developments have been popping up in San Francisco's Presidio, a former Army base and currently the only park in the National Park Service's collection that is operated privately. Some feel the developments don't fit the site.
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
