Los Angeles

Los Angeles' Plan to Keep 'Bootleg' Units Affordable

Los Angeles is moving toward creating a path to amnesty and affordability for habitable, but unpermitted residential units.

April 16, 2016 - Los Angeles Times

Court Ruling Deals Blows to Granny Flat Permits in Los Angeles

Granny flats, also known as mother-in-law units or accessory dwelling units, are a hot button item in most cities. A county court recently took the city of Los Angeles' finger off the button, so to speak.

April 10, 2016 - KPCC

Only in L.A.: Botanic Garden Displays LEGOs to Connect Visitors With Nature

A fun exhibit at the South Coast Botanic Garden is reviewed by park planner Clement Lau.

April 2, 2016 - UrbDeZine

Cities Try To Figure Out How To Be 'Resilient'

The organization 100 Resilient Cities has funded 'chief resilience officers' in 66 cities worldwide. It's helping four California cities prepare for 'stresses and shocks' including earthquakes, sea level rise, and even poverty.

March 28, 2016 - California Planning & Development Report

Metro Subway Los Angeles

Infographic: Incomes Along Los Angeles Metro Lines

As Los Angeles weighs the merits of more major funding for Metro Rail projects, the current slate of new routes is already coming online. This graphic depicts median household incomes along existing and future rail lines.

March 21, 2016 - Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Voters Won't Decide on Anti-Development Measure in November

Saying that their controversial "Neighborhood Integrity Initiative" would be 'buried' in a November ballot, the Coalition to Preserve L.A. will revise it and gather signatures to put it on the March ballot next year.

March 17, 2016 - Los Angeles Times - L.A. NOW

Op-Ed: Politicians Should Leave the Transit Routes to Planners

While it will certainly comes as a relief to some commuters living in the San Gabriel Valley, the Metro Gold Line extension that opened earlier this month was more the result of politics than planning.

March 16, 2016 - Los Angeles Times

More Anti-Density Measures Headed to the Ballot in Southern California

Witness the full force of anti-development animus in Southern California, where at least three cities are facing variety of backlash to the status quo of zoning and development processes.

March 15, 2016 - KPCC

L.A. Data Viz

Los Angeles Debuts Open Data Visualization Tool

Containing more than 500 open datasets, GeoHub lets users access the wealth of data Los Angeles makes available. The tool is also intended to help employees from different city departments work together.

March 10, 2016 - Next City

Los Angeles Metro and Lyft Considering a Data Sharing Partnership

Metro, the transit agency for Los Angeles County, could be the first to peak under the hood at trip data generated by Lyft.

March 6, 2016 - Los Angeles Times

Golden Gate

Why the Bay Area Outshines L.A.

Los Angeles' relative economic stagnation from 1980 onward was as much a choice as was the Bay Area's meteoric rise. According to planning scholar Michael Storper's account, Los Angeles' culture—not any policy or industry—is to blame.

March 3, 2016 - California Planning & Development Report

U.S. Cities Cracking Down on Homelessness

Three major American cities this week—San Francisco, Dallas, and Los Angeles—responded to the growing number of homeless living on the streets with sweeps, arrests, and seizures, respectively.

March 3, 2016 - San Francisco Chronicle

City Hall 'Outsider' on Opening Up L.A.'s Development Process

Los Angeles is experiencing an elevated anti-growth conversation and suspicion of insider dealings at City Hall. In the midst of this, a councilmember known as an "outsider" aims to reconcile his constituents with the city's development processes.

March 3, 2016 - The Planning Report

Tiny Homes for the Homeless Run Afoul of the City of Los Angeles

The city of Los Angeles is putting an end to a crowdfunded, unpermitted program to build and deliver tiny homes to homeless people living on the streets of Los Angeles.

February 26, 2016 - Los Angeles Times

Competing Land Use Initiatives on the November Ballot in Los Angeles

Move over "Neighborhood Integrity Initiative." The "Build Better LA" initiative will compete for the soul of the city in the November election.

February 25, 2016 - Los Angeles Times

San Francisco Bay bridge and Treasure Island aerial view

The Lost Art of Great Infrastructure in America

Writing in the New York Times, Allison Arieff asks what happened to the great works of public infrastructure from years past that stand as today's monuments to America’s achievements.

February 22, 2016 - The New York Times

Champion of L.A.'s 'Neighborhood Integrity Initiative' Speaks

A longtime Los Angeles journalist has joined the cause of a sweeping anti-growth initiative that has city leaders on high alert.

February 19, 2016 - The Planning Report

L.A.'s New Planning Director Vince Bertoni Shares His Vision

The new director of the Los Angeles Department of City Planning arrives at a pivotal moment for planning in the city, as countywide investment in public transit is blowing up and the flames of old development debates are being fanned.

February 18, 2016 - The Planning Report

Mobile Apps Provide the Ultimate Guide to Los Angeles

Get this guide for 21 apps and services for enjoying the city of Los Angeles to its fullest, whether you're a resident or a visitor.

February 17, 2016 - Netted

Los Angeles Harbor Freeway

Slow Express Lanes Causes L.A. County Metro to Tinker With Toll Pricing

As more solo-commuters have moved into the express pay lanes designed to quickly move traffic on Los Angeles's congested freeway system, speeds have dropped and L.A. Metro officials are looking to pricing disincentives to speed things up again.

February 16, 2016 - San Gabriel Valley Tribune

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.