A longtime colony for independent spirits in the California desert, Slab City may soon face mass eviction. A potential response by the community has its denizens divided.
Portrayed in Sean Penn's 2007 movie "Into the Wild," the anarchic desert haven called Slab City has harbored self-exiles for decades. Technically, these people are squatters. Erik Eckholm writes, "Yet it is not truly off the grid: Cellular service is decent, many residents have laptops, and everyone drives into nearby Niland or other towns for propane gas, generator fuel and water. Those with Social Security or pensions live well; those without scrounge for odd jobs and are sometimes arrested collecting scrap metal from the nearby Chocolate Mountain Aerial Gunnery Range."
Whether they're there to retire, hit rock bottom, or pursue their personal utopia, a desire to be left in peace unites the residents. But that might not last: "After the notion spread that the California State Land Commission might sell the land, the Slabbers started debating what to do: should they try to buy the place that they occupy illegally? Should they form a residents' association to save the anarchistic soul of Slab City, or would that spawn the type of bureaucracy that people came here to escape?"
The commission says Slab City is safe for now, but the announcement has bred tension and politicking where it was supposed to be all good.
FULL STORY: Talk of a Sale Fills a Hippie Haven With Bad Vibes
Luxury Hotel Turns Squatter Settlement
Between 2,000 and 3,000 people have taken over the Grande Hotel in Beira, Mozambique, and turned it into a small community of squatters.
How Squatters Will Help Shape the Future
In this piece, Stewart Brand argues that squatter cities will grow greatly over the next few decades, and the world will be better because of it.
States Move to Limit ‘Squatters’ Rights’
A wave of new legislation targets people who reside illegally in properties they don’t own.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives
A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.
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.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research