California

Social Media Apps

Introducing Urbanist TikTok

It was only a matter of time, and we're probably well behind the times, but the social media platform du jour, TikTok, has a lot to offer the discerning urbanist.

June 29, 2021 - Greater Greater Washington

An aerial view of Los Angeles at dawn, with Westlake and MacArthur Park in the foreground and Downtown Los Angeles in the background.

Bus Lanes Expand Territory in Los Angeles

A new bus lane on Alvarado Street is the latest in a string of new bus lane projects in Los Angeles.

June 28, 2021 - Streetsblog LA

South Bay Area

Development Fees Set to Increase in Fremont

The Silicon Valley city of Fremont, already home to some of the highest development fees in the region, is set to increase the cost of most forms of development again. The one exception—affordable housing.

June 27, 2021 - The Mercury News

An aerial photo of the Oceanside Pier in Oceanside. The Oceanside Marina is also visible.

Oceanside Debates the Future of its Coastline

As sea levels rise, California's coastal communities face difficult decisions about how to preserve coastlines and mitigate the looming threat.

June 24, 2021 - Voice of San Diego

Antelope Valley, California

Rural Parks Planning Underway in Los Angeles County

The Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation is conducting a survey to better understand the park and recreation needs of rural areas.

June 24, 2021 - SCV News

 The Young Apartments — 1621 South Grand Avenue, at the southern end of Downtown Los Angeles.

Los Angeles Ordinance Will Ban Tenant Harassment

The law targets "knowing and willful" actions on the part of landlords meant to drive tenants out of rent-controlled apartments.

June 23, 2021 - Los Angeles Times

Wildfire

Wildfire Recovery for the Nation's Largest Urban Park

The National Park Service is seeking public comments on the redevelopment of sites within the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area that were burned in the 2018 Woolsey Fire. 

June 22, 2021 - National Park Service

Inland Empire

Inland Empire City Pauses New Gas Station Development

The reasons for a ten-month moratorium on gas station development in the city of Rancho Cucamonga portend a major shift in transportation and land use priorities in the near future.

June 22, 2021 - Daily Bulletin

Vineyard, Napa Valley, California

Lawsuit by Malibu Wineries Challenges Ban on New Vineyards

A coalition of winemakers claims that the county ignored CEQA requirements in instituting a blanket ban on new vineyards in the Santa Monica Mountains.

June 18, 2021 - LAist

Westwood, Los Angeles

Reducing Car Trips in L.A.: Transportation Demand Management Ordinance Could Be Expanded

The proposed expansion would affect smaller multi-family developments and include incentives for reducing travel during peak hours and encouraging transit, walking, and biking.

June 17, 2021 - Urbanize Los Angeles

People experiencing homelessness

When It Comes to Ending Homelessness, What Does 'Functional Zero' Really Mean?

"The idea of the word ‘functional’ in front of ‘zero’ is a reaction to the misperception that ending homelessness means no one ever experiences homelessness again."

June 16, 2021 - Next City

Metro STation

Answers to 12 Questions About California Assembly Bill 1401

Assembly Bill 1401, one of the most closely-watched land use bills in the California State legislature this year, would remove parking requirements in "High Quality Transit Areas" statewide.

June 15, 2021 - Donald Shoup

Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority

Is It Possible to Love Public Transit in Los Angeles?

The answer is "Yes!" for Kenny Uong who is passionate about L.A.'s buses and trains, knows how to get around without a car, and hopes to inspire others to do the same.

June 14, 2021 - Los Angeles Times

Dublin, California Freeway

Innovative Road Funding Pilot Program Advances in California

State Sen. Scott Wiener authored legislation dubbed the Gas Tax Alternative Pilot to extend the California Road Charge Program that completed its pilot in 2017. The program takes on more significance with the 2035 sales ban of gas-powered vehicles.

June 14, 2021 - Office of California State Senator Scott Wiener

Expo & Crenshaw Expo Line Station

Inglewood Set to Rezone Neighborhoods Near New Transit Lines

Plans for the area include thousands of new housing units, public parks, and improved bike and pedestrian infrastructure.

June 14, 2021 - Urbanize LA

Hollywood, Los Angeles, California

Legalizing Street Vending: Lessons from Los Angeles

With new regulations poised to add 400 new vendors to New York City's streets every year for the next decade, city leaders can look to L.A.'s recent legalization efforts for guidance.

June 13, 2021 - Curbed

Venice Beach, Los Angeles

Supportive Housing Bridging Venice Canals Granted Planning Commission Approval in L.A.

The mixed-use Reese Davidson Community will include 140 housing units, commercial space, and a performance space.

June 11, 2021 - The Architect's Newspaper

Central Los Angeles

L.A. Planners Working to Shift Affordable Housing Distribution for More Equitable Results

Almost all the affordable housing development in L.A. in the past decade has occurred in majority-minority neighborhoods. The L.A. Department of City Planning is looking for ways to make sure high-income areas do more of their fair share.

June 9, 2021 - Urbanize LA

Parking Sign

The Pretext Problem: The Pitfalls of Planning While Bargaining

Lots of planning is discretionary. Cities and developers negotiate what builders will do for cities in exchange for the right to build, creating an incentive for bad rules, eroding the public's faith in zoning, and enabling political corruption.

June 9, 2021 - Michael Manville

Coronavirus and Urbanism

California Workplaces to Return to Normal? Not Unless Everyone is Vaccinated

Most coronavirus restrictions are set to end on June 15 in California. The statewide mask mandate will align with CDC guidance, but workplaces will follow the new Cal/OSHA mask mandate: Unless everyone is vaccinated indoors, everyone masks.

June 8, 2021 - The Mercury News

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.