Christian Madera
Christian Madera was managing editor of Planetizen from 2006 to 2008.
Contributed 1912 posts
Christian Madera was managing editor of Planetizen from 2006 to 2008. He currently lives and works in Hong Kong.
Christian has written about urban planning, policy and technology issues for the Los Angeles Times, Planning Magazine, The Southern Sierran, and Next City Magazine, where he was a 2010 Urban Leaders Fellow. His past experience includes working as a community planner and the web and new media manager for the National Capital Planning Commission in Washington, DC, as well as a policy analyst for a non-profit housing developer in Los Angeles.
Prior to joining Planetizen, Christian worked as a program manager for the China Planning and Development Institute in Shanghai and Beijing. Christian also spent three years as a web developer at Urban Insight, the internet consulting firm that supports Planetizen, and contributed significantly to the development of Planetizen from 2000-2003. He has interned and consulted with a number of governments and non-profit organizations, including the Port Authority of NY/NJ, the Rockefeller Foundation, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), NYU Rudin Center for Transportation Policy, New Jersey Future, the City of Newark, NJ, and the CUNY Building Performance Lab in New York City.
Christian holds a BS in urban planning and development from the University of Southern California's School of Policy Planning and Development, and an MPA from the Woodrow Wilson School of International and Public Affairs at Princeton University.
Multifamily Housing Construction Surges In April
<p>While the market for single-family homes remains deeply troubled, developers of apartment buildings are moving ahead with new construction -- likely expecting rising rents from tightening rental vacancy rates due to displaced homeowners.</p>
L.A.'s Subway Planners Thinking Bigger Is Better
<p>The city is already struggling to fund its planned $5 billion subway extension. But planners think adding a spur through West Hollywood could convince federal officials to chip in more funding for the project.</p>
The Newest 'Made In China' Item: Hotels
<p>Hotel operator Travelodge is planning to build pre-fabricated hotels in Shenzhen that can be assembled in locales in need of a short term boost in rooms -- such as Olympic host cities.</p>
Should Seattle Wait To Plan Its Light Rail Expansion?
<p>Instead of asking residents to consider a timid plan this November, the region's transit agency should wait until its first light rail line opens, and gas prices rise even higher. Voters will then be ready for a grander plan, argues a recent column.</p>
The Placemaking Power Of Artists
<p>A recent conference focused on how planners use the transformative effect that artists bring to a community to help jump start urban revitalization.</p>