Los Angeles

Arts District

The Arts District and the 'Missed Opportunity' of Planning in L.A.

Downtown L.A.'s Arts District transformed from an industrial sector to a vibrant, mixed-use neighborhood. Now, the community's attempts to protect their vision from haphazard development illuminate Los Angeles's broken planning process.

May 29, 2016 - The Planning Report

Garcetti Tree People

L.A.'s Water Supply Increasingly Relying on Management of Stormwater

In October 2014, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti acted to make the city more resilient from drought and climate change. In 2016, we get an update from leaders Gary Hildebrand and Marty Adams on L.A.'s stormwater capture systems.

May 27, 2016 - The Planning Report

Expo Line

What L.A.'s New Expo Line Extension Won't Do

The $1.5 billion, 6.6-mile light rail extension from Culver City to Santa Monica is projected to double trips on the line by 2030, giving commuters a viable alternative to driving. Just the same, don't expect the extension to reduce congestion.

May 23, 2016 - Wired

Los Angeles STreet

An Interview with the General Manager of the Los Angeles DOT

What's it like to lead the department of transportation in a city trying to overcome decades of car-centric planning? Let LADOT General Manager Seleta Reynolds tell it in her own words.

May 22, 2016 - Los Angeles Downtown News

Pershing Square

L.A.'s New Pershing Square Will Be 'Radically Flat'

After stakeholder engagement and an international design competition, Agence Ter's plan for "radical flatness" has been selected to replace downtown L.A.'s current Pershing Square. The preferred alternative is, above all, simple.

May 21, 2016 - Los Angeles Times

Garcetti Expo Line

What It's Like to Ride the New Expo Line to Santa Monica

For a bit of fun, take this animated ride on the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority's new Expo Line extension.

May 20, 2016 - YouTube

Metro STation

Parking Concerns Raised Around L.A.'s New Expo Line

Good news: Metro Los Angeles will open the long-awaited Expo Line extension, connecting Santa Monica and the the beach to Downtown Los Angeles, this weekend. Bad news: the public waited until now to worry about the parking around new stations.

May 19, 2016 - Los Angeles Times

Housing Construction

Comparing Housing Permits Around the Sun Belt

It might not come as a surprise, but the Sun Belt cities permitting fewer new single-family homes are the Sun Belt cities permitting fewer new homes.

May 19, 2016 - The Urban Edge

Los Angeles Smog Skyline Zoom

The Role of Planning in Fixing Los Angeles' Development Woes

Globe St. featured an exclusive interview with Gail Goldberg, executive director of the Urban Land Institute, Los Angeles Chapter, and former planning director of Los Angeles and San Diego.

May 12, 2016 - Globe St.

San Gabriel Mountains

19 Mansions May Be Headed to Los Angeles Wilderness

A fight is brewing over a plan to build 19 luxury homes on an expanse of wilderness in Los Angeles' San Gabriel Mountains.

May 8, 2016 - San Gabriel Valley Tribune

Bus Stop

Failed Public-Private Partnership Leaves Bus Stops With No Shade in Los Angeles

A 2001 contract between the city of Los Angeles and CBS Decaux failed to deliver 662 shelters for bus stops. A case study in what not to do on either side of a public-private partnership follows.

May 6, 2016 - KPCC

Carpool Lane

New Carpool Lanes Under Construction in Los Angeles County

The ongoing build out of carpool lanes in Los Angeles County continues. A five-mile stretch of I-10 in the eastern portion of the county—a commuter corridor and a corridor frequented for getaways from L.A.—will be adding new capacity.

May 5, 2016 - KPCC

Pumping Gas

Gas Delivery Straight to Your Vehicle. What Could Go Wrong?

Cities and fire departments around the country are struggling with the sudden explosion of start-ups promising to make your life easier by delivering gasoline straight to your vehicle.

May 5, 2016 - Bloomberg

Streetcar Graveyard

The Inevitable Rise of the Auto and Fall of the Streetcar in Los Angeles

A timely piece in The Guardian's City series looks at the demise of streetcars in Los Angeles, beginning with the Great American Streetcar Conspiracy. If only it was that simple.

May 4, 2016 - The Guardian Cities

Granny Flats a Symptom of L.A.'s 'Broken' Planning Process

Building permits for Accessory Dwelling Units have been stopped by court order in Los Angeles.

May 1, 2016 - The Planning Report

Santa Monica Bay

Los Angeles Reaps the Benefits of Restoring the Santa Monica Bay

Los Angeles has made major progress in restoring the Santa Monica Bay. Now, The Bay Foundation's Tom Ford sees opportunities for L.A. to capitalize on its natural resources.

April 28, 2016 - The Planning Report

Artists Plan a Mini Golf Course to Teach About Zoning and Gentrification

An art installation called "The Back 9" is planned for Los Angeles' Skid Row to tackle the issues of gentrification, zoning, and back room deals for development rights.

April 21, 2016 - CityLab

Staten Island Ferry "Spirit of America"

Debunking Myths About Domestic Migration

A post in reply to the question: If so many people are leaving New York and Los Angeles, why are they still growing?

April 19, 2016 - StatChat

Expo Line LA Skyline

Los Angeles Looking for New Planners, New Community Plans

Mayor Eric Garcetti has announced his commitment to the planning process in Los Angeles by proposing a program that would hire new planners and launch new planning efforts at the community level.

April 18, 2016 - KPCC

Transit May Not Reduce Congestion—But It's Still Important

Laura Bliss argues that rather than promise to reduce congestion, Los Angeles Metro should embrace its real beneficiaries: non-drivers.

April 16, 2016 - CityLab

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.