California
Massive, Vacant L.A. Hospital To Become Affordable Housing
The historic building will be redeveloped with over 500 housing units and supportive services on site.
Electric School Buses Put Power Back Into Grid
A “vehicle to grid” pilot program in a Southern California school district has school buses doing double-duty as electricity storage.
Updated: The Perils of Central Planning for Parking
The California State Legislature is once again considering statewide parking reforms. Planetizen dusted off a Donald Shoup op-ed published last year to once again explain the stakes. While the name of the bill has changed, the terms still apply.
Report Sounds the Alarm for Western Reservoirs
Without more immediate, long-term reductions in water demand, Lake Mead and Lake Powell, the West’s most important reservoirs, face imminent collapse.
Whose History Is Being Preserved, Exactly?
As the housing crisis continues, advocates are increasingly wary of historic preservation efforts that serve to perpetuate historic inequities and keep housing costs high.
How To Protect an Entire Town From Wildfire
In the wake of the destructive Camp Fire, a proposal to encircle the town of Paradise with a green belt could help keep future fires at bay and better protect vulnerable residents.
A ‘Public Realm Action Plan’ Charts San Francisco’s Post-Covid Comeback
A nonprofit business group released a plan to trigger the post-pandemic revitalization of Downtown San Francisco by reclaiming public space for human scale activity. But is an improved public realm sufficient to meet the challenge?
Could L.A. Be a 15-Minute City?
Advocates argue that even famously car-centric Los Angeles can become a place where residents can easily access their daily needs without getting behind the wheel.
L.A.’s 6th Street Bridge Bike Lane Disappoints
Bike and pedestrian infrastructure on the much-anticipated new bridge leaves much to be desired, according to advocates.
San Francisco Launches Adaptive Cycling Program
The program offers a variety of adaptive bikes at no charge to people with disabilities.
California Rents Could Spike by as Much as 10 Percent
Thanks to inflation, landlords in parts of the state not limited by local rent stabilization ordinances can raise rent by up to 10 percent starting in August.
La Placita Cinco: A Strip Mall Redevelopment for Housing Affordability and Neighborhood Revitalization
U.S. cities lack land for new development but have many derelict or defunct parcels in need of revitalization. There are an estimated 70,000 strip mall centers in the country, all with tremendous potential for affordable and workforce housing.
Transit Systems Begin To Shift Away From Police Enforcement
Some transit agencies are launching ‘ambassador’ programs that use unarmed personnel to respond to safety concerns and reduce interactions with armed law enforcement.
San Diego Not Meeting State Housing Goals
Based on the number of permits issued for new construction in the last year, the city must triple its production to meet the targets set by the state in the latest round of the Regional Housing Needs Assessment.
L.A. Times Editorial Board Supports Legislation To Eliminate Parking Requirements
The paper of record in Southern California is on the record in support of parking reforms.
Caltrans Releases Complete Streets Action Plan
The agency’s detailed list of actions highlights the many changes needed to truly implement Complete Streets principles into California road construction and maintenance.
Presidio Tunnel Tops Links San Francisco Parks Above Seven Lanes of Traffic
Encompassing 14 acres, the project spans a major parkway and includes a two-acre children’s play area, trails, several overlooks, and gathering spaces from picnic areas to a campfire circle.
Planning for a New Nature Center at a Geological Wonder
Los Angeles County is seeking public input for the Devil’s Punchbowl Natural Area Nature Center replacement planning project.
To Meet Housing Goals, California Cities Turn to Mall Redevelopment
As brick-and-mortar stores decline due to the rise of e-commerce, cities look to mall sites as ideal locations for new housing.
Los Angeles County Allocates $9 Million for Parks in High Need Areas
The funding is from Measure A, the Safe, Clean Neighborhood Parks and Beaches Measure, a parcel tax approved by nearly 75 percent of voters in 2016.
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
