Los Angeles

'Don't Tell My Landlord'

9 October 2008 - 10:11am

That's what some guy said to me late last night as I waited for my tacos at a typically busy taco truck. He was talking about our Los Angeles neighborhood, Echo Park, which was recently named by the American Planning Association as one of the "10 Great Neighborhoods of 2008". It's a nice honor for the 'hood -- and I think they're right -- but I'm with that random taco dude: don't tell my landlord.

Incomes to Mix in New L.A. Housing Plan

30 September 2008 - 8:00am
Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is planning to propose a $5 billion housing plan for the city that focuses on mixed-income development and locations near transit. Some applaud the move, but others worry it may not be feasible.

Industrial Land Eyed For Green Future in L.A.

26 September 2008 - 9:00am
Los Angeles Times
Officials in Los Angeles are hoping to turn a former brownfield site into the centerpiece of a new downtown green industrial district.

The Unseen City Icons

7 September 2008 - 5:00am
Discover
This piece from Discover looks at the iconic "invisible" things that define cities -- like Seattle's clouds, Houston's air conditioning, and L.A.'s Botox.

L.A. Taco Trucks Can Park Again - For Now

28 August 2008 - 11:00am
The Los Angeles Times
An ordinance passed in L.A. that limited the amount of time taco trucks could be parked in one location has been overturned. However, many expect it to come back in a different form.

Behind the Scenes at the L.A. Subway

25 August 2008 - 1:00pm
InTransition Magazine
Josh Stephens illuminates the debate on subway expansion plans in Los Angeles and the forces on all sides.

Five Cities Fighting Abandonment

23 August 2008 - 9:00am
Developer
This article from Developer looks at five cities that are dealing creatively with their foreclosure and abandonment problems.

Unlikely Partners Oppose L.A. Transit Funding Plan

18 August 2008 - 6:00am
LA Weekly
In an unlikely collaboration, tax payers and the Los Angeles Bus Riders Union have joined in opposition to a proposal that would raise L.A. County sales tax a half-cent to provide funding for public transit.

L.A.'s Fast Food Ban Boosts Health and Healthy Businesses

16 August 2008 - 11:00am
The New York Times
A moratorium on new fast food restaurants in Los Angeles is seen as a way to encourage better public health, but also a way to encourage healthier businesses.

Fast-Food Moratorium Moves Ahead in L.A.

24 July 2008 - 5:00am
The Los Angeles Times
A proposal to ban any new fast-food restaurants in South Los Angeles for one year has received unanimous approval from a city committee, and will head next to city council for approval. Concerns have been raised about what qualifies as "fast food".

The Park-Poor City

21 July 2008 - 5:00am
LA Weekly
This article from LA Weekly looks at L.A.'s parks deficit and what some are trying to do to address it.

What's In A Neighborhood's Name?

9 July 2008 - 6:00am
The Los Angeles Times
Officials in Los Angeles have renamed the former "South Central" to remove the stigma of riots in the 1990's. But some business owners and residents say that's had a greater negative consequence than keeping the old name would have.

Other Cities May Follow D.C. in Lifting Handgun Ban

27 June 2008 - 8:00am
NPR
Washington D.C.'s recent lift of its citywide handgun ban could signal a change for other cities with similar bans, like L.A. and Atlanta.

L.A. Mayor Seeks Sales Tax Increase For Transit

27 June 2008 - 7:00am
The Los Angeles Times
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's half-cent increase in the county's sales tax would create $30-$40 billion for transportation projects over the next 30 years, and could go before voters in November.

Cap and Play

21 June 2008 - 9:00am
The Los Angeles Times
This commentary from the Los Angeles Times calls for creation of a central park for the city, made by putting a "cap" over a section of freeway.

Act, React, Repeat

19 June 2008 - 6:17pm

Adaptation is a way of life. But we humans have been building our habitats and cities in pursuit of permanence. This is an unreachable goal. Making our cities and communities and lifestyles adapt to outside influences is typically an afterthought. We do tend to react, and we often react very effectively. But solving problems before they happen has never been a strong suit when it comes to urban development. This is especially true with regard to our impacts on the environment. A recent and bizarre example illustrates this point.

Key New York City Council Member Predicts Future for Congestion Pricing

6 June 2008 - 11:00am
The Planning Report
Council Member David Yassky was one of congestion pricing's earliest and most vocal proponents, and he hasn't yet given up on the prospect of charging tolls to drive in Manhattan.

L.A. River Rebuff Confirmed

5 June 2008 - 2:00pm
The Los Angeles Times
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has made final a decision that says much of the Los Angeles River is not navigable, and is therefore not a river. It will retain some Clean Water Act protection, but developing on its watershed may become easier.

One Man's Legacy in L.A.

4 June 2008 - 10:00am
The Los Angeles Times
William Fulton reflects on the lasting impact of L.A. developer Robert Maguire III on the city.

Corps Says L.A. River Isn't a River

3 June 2008 - 9:00am
The Los Angeles Times
A draft decision by the Army Corps of Engineers says that because a boat cannot navigate its waters, the L.A. River doesn't qualify as a river. Environmentalists are outraged, as hundreds of square miles of watershed are at risk of losing protection.
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