Urban Design

(Editor's note: If you want to dig a little deeper into the numbers on Metro's customer satisfaction surveys, we have the full results in pdf form for bus riders, train riders, and everyone available for viewing or download. - DN)

Density. Vehicle Ownership. The number of cars packed into a small area.

In a letter to friends and supporters posted on the Latino Urban Forum (LUF) listserve, one of Metro's most progressive planners, James Rojas, announced that he will be leaving the transit agency to create an urban planning high school in East L.A. Rojas may be best known to Streetsblog readers for his "interactive planning models" that have traveled around the world from Site L.A. to the United Nations' World Urban Forum in Brazil.  Ironically, Rojas announced his departure the same day I received a press advisory that Metro will feature one of his interactive models as the show piece of their "Dump the Pump Day" media conference tomorrow.

With financial reform nearly complete, the Senate Banking Committee turned its attention today to one of Senator Chris Dodd's (D-CT) next priorities, the Livable Communities Act. Local government came out strong for the initiative to promote sustainable and integrated regional planning, with representatives of the nation's cities, towns, counties, and regional planning organizations testifying in favor. Among committee members, concerns persisted about whether the bill would disadvantage rural areas. 

Good data.

Gresham, Oregon used to look like your typical suburb. Lots of lawns and lots of parking. When Portland’s MAX light-rail line expanded to Gresham, developers saw an opportunity to bring something different: walkable development. But a downturn in the local real estate market interceded. One developer trying to build a four-story condo project decided that … Continued

Earlier this week, Streetsblog waded back into the debate over two controversial development projects sponsored by NBC Universal in North Hollywood.  One of those projects, which NBC is calling "Evolution" will redevelop a 391 acre parcel and will include a theme park, business and entertainment industry center, more than 2,900 new apartments and condos, 35 acres of open space, a 500-room hotel and a refurbished amphitheater.  Residents are complaining about a coming traffic crush. 

Interested folks can see Park 101 project plans, ask questions, and give input at a meeting preceding the monthly downtown Art Walk this Thursday. It takes place between 4 and 6 P.M. at Caltrans Headquarters, at 200 S. Main Street.

Her approval rating on the rise amid a difficult election battle, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) joined the president's campaign against childhood obesity this week by proposing $1 billion in loans and grants to build healthier neighborhood grocery stores and farmers' markets.