California

The Housing 'Cool Quotient'

Welcome to the latest In LA high-rise style: In Los Angeles, the newest housing status symbol for the young, design-savvy crowd is a condo in the 32-story Modernist block of stucco and glass on Sunset Blvd, and built in 1964.

December 22, 2005 - The Los Angeles Times

A Planning Commission Embraces Height And Density

Oakland's Planning Commission is delighted to approve two residential highrises as the city continues enjoying its downtown revival under Mayor Jerry Brown.

December 22, 2005 - The Oakland Tribune

Innovating Southern California's Goods Movement System

Former California governors, Jerry Brown, George Deukmejian, Pete Wilson and Gray Davis team up to propose a better system for handling the environmental impacts of increased trade in Southern California's ports.

December 21, 2005 - The Los Angeles Times

First 'Smog Fee' On New Development

San Joaquin Valley, CA, air quality officials may become the first in the nation to force builders to pay air pollution fees for new development.

December 20, 2005 - The Los Angeles Times

When 4,000 Homes Close In On A Canyon Lifestyle

What happens when a developer is approved to build 4,000 homes in the midst of a rural retreat? It's a recurring question in Southern California.

December 20, 2005 - The Los Angeles Times

Mixed-use Projects To Reshape Downtown Riverside, CA

Mixed use comes to downtown Riverside (CA), with several housing, office and commercial projects scheduled to break ground in 2006.

December 19, 2005 - Riverside Press-Enterprise

Greuel: Fixing Transportation In LA

Councilmember Wendy Greuel says that getting L.A. moving requires doing small fixes now and planning for big projects in the future.

December 17, 2005 - The Metro Investment Report

Developers To Pay For Air Pollution Caused By Sprawl

Air pollution control meant looking at tailpipes and smokestacks. Not anymore. San Joaquin Valley is first in nation to take into account air pollution created by urban sprawl.

December 16, 2005 - The Fresno Bee

The Benefits Of Immigration

A new report by the Center for the Continuing Study of the California Economy finds that immigration -- legal or illegal -- produces a net economic benefit for the country.

December 16, 2005 - The Los Angeles Times

The Intriguing Promise Of Treasure Island

San Francisco's proposed Treasure Island development might be the new model for urban growth.

December 16, 2005 - The San Francisco Chronicle

New Eminent Domain Ballot Measures In California

Voter initiatives have been filed that address the issues brought up in Kelo V. City Of New London.

December 16, 2005 - League of California Cities

Building Big, Living Small

Doug Rucker builds large, spacious residences, but lives -- and works -- in a modest 710 square foot house.

December 16, 2005 - The Los Angeles Times

Kotkin Responds To Los Angeles Mayor: LA Doesn't Want Density

Joel Kotkin criticizes Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa for re-imagining Los Angeles. Kotkin says that Angelenos want to live in a place more like Manhattan Beach than Manhattan.

December 15, 2005 - The Los Angeles Times

CA Mobility Infrastructure Investment Will Create 1 Million Jobs

Economist John Husing says that a $36 billion in the region's goods movement infrastructure will more than pay for itself.

December 15, 2005 - The Metro Investment Report

A New, Aggressive Approach To Homelessness

After patience with extensive panhandling by the homeless population runs thin, Santa Monica, CA, launches an aggressive new effort to get chronically homeless individuals off the city's streets.

December 14, 2005 - The Los Angeles Times

Southern California Restores Its Natural Past

At least five major sites in Southern California are working hard to restore and maintain nature preserves.

December 11, 2005 - The Los Angeles Times

Gas Tax Proposed In California To Reach Global Warming Goals

Governor Schwarzenegger's Climate Action Team drafts a report calling for a "public goods charge" (don't call it a gas tax!)with the goal of reducing greenhouse gases, as opposed to reducing congestion

December 10, 2005 - San Jose Mercury News

L.A. Mayor's Vision For The City

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa outlines his ideal future for the city -- including better public transit and more affordable housing.

December 10, 2005 - The Los Angeles Times

Luxury Beverly Hills Condo Project Sells Itself As Green

Plans for a $500-million luxury condominium project in Beverly Hills involving celebrity architects, and an environmentally friendly design are unveiled by developer, New Pacific Realty.

December 9, 2005 - The Los Angeles Times

Is The L.A. Times Ignoring Eminent Domain Issues?

Matt Welch, a media columnist for Reason magazine, charges that the LA Times "consistently failed to cover the property-seizing excesses of the school district's historic building boom."

December 8, 2005 - The Los Angeles Times

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.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.