Urban Design
Streetsblog LA
Is CEQA Reform Truly on Its Way? If It Is, Should We Be Happy or Worried?
California Forward released this video last November making the case for CEQA reform on transportation issues.
September 5, 2013
Welcome to “The Avenue Hollywood”, Another Anti-Pedestrian Project
Mixed-use developments are rising all over Los Angeles, particularly in Hollywood and West Hollywood. Some buildings look better than others, though sadly none show the classic architectural spark that once existed in the early 20th century. Nevertheless, most new projects aim for common goals: sustainability and improved pedestrian infrastructure.
August 23, 2013
New Report Outlines How CA Can Kick Its Addiction to Oil, Foreign and Domestic
The government is encouraging you to drive a car, and if California is truly serious about reducing its oil dependency that needs to change. This is the unequivocal conclusion of Unraveling Ties to Petroleum a new report commissioned by Next 10 California and written by UCLA researchers Juan Matute, Director of the UCLA Local Climate Initiative, and Stephanie Pincetl, Adjunct Professor and Director of the California Center for Sustainable Communities at UCLA.
June 20, 2013
Zoning a Healthier Los Angeles?
(editor's note: When I saw L.A. County was being praised for updating its zoning code to encourage wider sidewalks and bicycling facilities, I went to some zoning experts to ask them to weigh in on the county's proposal. Occidental College Professor Mark Vallianatos answered my call. - DN)
February 22, 2013
LA Planners Leapfrog NYC DCP, Approve Plan With No Mandatory Parking
Angie reported this morning that Washington, DC, is moving to reduce mandatory parking requirements in much of the city, which should lower the cost of housing and curb traffic. Meanwhile, despite talk last year of wide-ranging parking reforms for New York's "inner ring" encircling the Manhattan core, the Department of City Planning has so far only managed to put forward a reduction of parking minimums in transit-saturated Downtown Brooklyn, the most screamingly obvious location.
December 17, 2012
Villaraigosa to Department Heads: It’s Time to Work Together on T.O.D. Planning
Mayor Villaraigosa Executive Order on Transit Oriented Development Cabinet
November 27, 2012
NRDC/Move L.A. Push Governor on Smart Growth Bill, Praise Regional Plans
Over the last year, three large regional transportation authorities have passed regional transportation plans that tie together transportation, land use, greenhouse gas emissions and public health mandated by S.B. 375 in 2008. Today, a new study by the Natural Resources Defense Council and Move L.A. praises the Los Angeles, Sacramento and San Diego regional planning areas for passing these plans and promotes legislation that could make future plans even better.
September 24, 2012
Developers and Proponents of New Wyvernwood Face Off at Special Forum Held by Council Member Huizar
City Council Member Jose Huizar, who represents Boyle Heights, East L.A. and parts of the Downtown, held a community meeting with the current residents of Wyvernwood Apartments to hear their concerns regarding the proposed redevelopment project to replace the current apartment with a higher-cost mixed-use housing development. In 2011, Huizar expressed concern with the project, but last night seemed more neutral while listening to the 200 residents in attendance.
September 21, 2012
Metro Unveils Station Design for Regional Connector
(Public meetings for the connector continue today at the Central Library, 630 W. Fifth St.; 1 to 3 p.m., Aug. 28, at the Colburn School, 200 S. Grand Ave.; and 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Aug. 29, at the Japanese American National Museum, 369 E. First St. Project information is at metro.net/projects/connector.)
August 23, 2012
For Universal City, It’s a Bridge Not Far Enough
As the local media focuses on this morning's hearing on the NBC Universal Evolution project, there's another project that impacts the area. The proposed pedestrian bridge crossing Lankershim Boulevard and Campo de Cahuenga as part of an eighteen year old Memorandum of Understanding will cost $19 million, but questions remain on whether the bridge is even a good idea.
August 14, 2012