Urban Planning in a Tijuana Colonia
On August 5th and 6th I facilitated a high-energy, successful community visioning activity for Camino Verde, a colonia in Tijuana organized by Reacciona Tijuana. This project started as a collaboration between Giacomo Castagnola, architect/artist and myself as part of an urban planning art exhibition being organized in October for the Museum of Latin American Art.
August 9, 2011
James Rojas Visists Baltimore: Open Baltimore Interactive Model
(Note: This is the second installment in our four-year series about how Baltimore, Maryland. Our first installment, "Baltimore Getting Serious About Bikes" appeared in May, 2008. - DN)
April 15, 2011
L.A.’s DIY Complete Streets
(As I type these words, UCLA is hosting the Complete Streets for Los Angeles Conference in Downtown Los Angeles. As you can guess, I'm not at the conference. To provide coverage, we asked some of the presenters to allow us to publish their presentations. First up: regular Streetsblog contributor James Rojas. We'll have more next week. - DN)
February 25, 2011
The Act of Being a Pedestrian
It always amazes me how artists can capture new ways of walking in the existing built environment. The boring streets of South Park became a world of physical and sensual discovery through Being Pedestrian facilitated by Sara Wooky and Sara Daleiden last Saturday.
February 8, 2011
A Sustainable Ending for the 710 Tunnel Debate – Let’s Build Light Rail for Everyone
The never-ending debate over whether or not to “complete” SR-710 so that it connects with the 210 provides a great opportunity to create a sustainable option for the 710 Tunnel. Instead of a tunnel designed to move trucks and cars, we need to create a light rail alternative that connects the region’s biggest job centers with the poorest, transit dependent communities. Yes, let’s build a light rail alternative between Long Beach and Pasadena!
January 27, 2011
Nacimeintos/Nativity Scenes, Latino Public Art Installation in the Front Yard
During the Latino Christmas season, which begins December 12th on the Feast day of our Lady of Guadalupe and lasts until January 6th the Epiphany, Latino front yards become a celebration of public art installations. Unlike many Christmas lawn decorations, which are pre-designed and store bought, the Latino front yard Nativity scenes are personal explosions of creative ideas.
January 7, 2011
Perils of walking in Alhambra, My near death experience!
I pressed the crosswalk button and waited until the traffic light signaled me to cross the street. Before I stepped onto the cross walk on Main Street at the intersection with Granada, heading north, I looked ahead slightly left to see if there were any on coming cars.
January 3, 2011
Workshop Notes from “L.A. 2050” Event at Occidental College
(Last week before a question and answer session with L.A. City Planning Director Michael LoGrande, James Rojas led attendees through an interactive modeling program. The theme of this program was to envision Los Angeles in 2050. Rojas shares his notes with us below. If you're not familiar with Rojas' modeling projects, check out this video by Dr. Pop.- DN)
December 6, 2010
LA in Maps: What’s next??
After reading the book L.A. in Maps I asked myself the question, "What's next?"
November 3, 2010