California

Education

Los Angeles Public Schools Transition to Emergency Relief, Distance Learning

Los Angeles Unified Superintendent Austin Beutner on the extensive and unprecedented challenges the district—its students, families, faculty and staff—face in the transition to remote ‘distance learning.’

April 30, 2020 - The Planning Report

San Francisco, California

1,100 New Homes Planned in the Middle of San Francisco

The prospect of a large mixed-use development on a 17-acre parking lot in the center of San Francisco took a substantial step forward this week.

April 30, 2020 - San Francisco Chronicle

Los Angeles

In L.A., Coronavirus Increases Landlord-Tenant Disputes

Los Angeles renters are facing challenges in coming up with rent payments as unemployment rates continue to rise. As a result, police are responding to significantly more calls about conflicts between landlords and tenants.

April 30, 2020 - Crosstown

East Harlem

Urbanism Pays the Price for High COVID Death Toll in New York and New Jersey

Opponents of dense housing and public transit have seized on the disproportionate death toll originating from the epicenter of the nation's coronavirus outbreak. Is it time for the leaders of New York and New Jersey to admit they acted late?

April 30, 2020 - Slate

Communicative Arts Academy: Rebuilding Compton for Artists and Community Life

In the 1960s-70s, a group of artists called the Compton Communicative Arts Academy renovated buildings across Compton and transformed vernacular, underutilized structures into venues for and objects of art.

April 29, 2020 - KCET Artbound

Wilshire Grand

A High-Rise Condo and Hotel Proposed for Downtown Los Angeles

A trendy new Downtown Los Angels skyscraper would be home to a 160-room hotel and 319 condominium units if an Australian developer moves forward with plans.

April 28, 2020 - Los Angeles Times

Coronavirus COVID-19

States to Train Public Health Armies to Move Beyond Mitigation to Containment

As some governors open nonessential businesses, subjecting workers and customers to potential viral infection, others move beyond social distancing to the next steps, boxing in the coronavirus with testing, contact tracing, isolation, and quarantine.

April 27, 2020 - The Washington Post

Women's March Los Angeles

Former L.A. City Budget Czar on the Fiscal Quagmire Ahead

Miguel Santana, former chief administrative officer for the city of Los Angeles during the Great Recession, comments on the realities revenue-starved city budgets.

April 27, 2020 - The Planning Report

Cupertino, California

Google's Decade of Land Acquisition Cresting During the Pandemic

According to reports, Google parent company Alphabet is pulling back on two massive land acquisition deals amidst the economic uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic. A development approval setback will also slow the company's expansion.

April 27, 2020 - San Jose Inside

BART System

California Awards $500 Million in Grants for Low-Emissions Transportation Projects

The Amtrak route between Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Luis Obispo is one of the projects to receive a boost from the California State Transportation Agency's 2020 Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP).

April 23, 2020 - Mass Transit

Santa Monica Route 66

A Canary in the Coal Mine for All Cities? Santa Monica City Manager Steps Down

Rick Cole discusses the existential challenges cities must grapple to be a leading city in the 21st century, Santa Monica's achievements during his five years as city manager, and the sacrifices that will be made as the city endures COVID-19.

April 22, 2020 - The Planning Report

San Francisco, California

Breaking News: 12 New 'Slow Streets' in San Francisco

Transportation officials in San Francisco are planning to restrict vehicle access on 12 streets around the city to make more room for pedestrians and people on bikes.

April 21, 2020 - San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency

Metro Train Station

Construction Errors Delay Crenshaw Light Rail in Los Angeles

The Crenshaw/LAX line, under construction in Los Angeles and passing through the city of Inglewood to connect the Expo and Green lines, was originally scheduled to open in 2019.

April 21, 2020 - Los Angeles Times

California

Eviction Moratoriums Rescinded After Landlords Threaten Lawsuits

While a statewide eviction moratorium is still in place, the example of Upland in Southern California suggests that local eviction moratoriums might not withstand legal controversies.

April 21, 2020 - Daily Bulletin

Affordable Housing

$1 Million for an Affordable Apartment in California—Coronavirus Could Make it Worse

The pre-existing condition of the California housing market will make it very difficult to meet the demands of the state's residents as unemployment spikes in the state.

April 20, 2020 - Los Angeles Times

Case Study Program

AIA National Conference Canceled

The conference had been postponed with the potential of being rescheduled later this year.

April 20, 2020 - The Architect's Newspaper

New York City

Part II: The New Regionalism of the Coronavirus Pandemic

Part I was shutting down the economy on a multi-state basis in the absence of federal leadership. Part II will be opening them up in spite of federal assertiveness.

April 16, 2020 - Politico

Public Health

COVID-19 Impacts on the Future of Transportation

MoveLA's Denny Zane and Gloria Ohland assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on public transit.

April 15, 2020 - The Planning Report

Self-Driving Cars

Ups and Downs for Self-Driving Cars During the Pandemic

While some driverless car companies have expanded operations in the past month, some industry observers caution that the business of autonomous vehicles remains stuck in neutral.

April 13, 2020 - Axios

Campanile

Distance Learning and University Challenges Under COVID-19

University of California Board of Regents Chair John A. Pérez shares the University of California's real-time response to the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting economic and pedagogical impacts for the system.

April 13, 2020 - The Planning Report

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.