Laurel Canyon makes clear that the music that defined American culture was itself defined by a specific place in a specific city—a city that previously had been famous for its supposed lack of culture.
Cities Confront Environmental Justice In General Plans
OPR issues guidelines for implementing SB 1000, which requires local governments to address EJ directly in planning for the first time
Sexism and the City
Leslie Kern’s new book Feminist City will likely ring familiar with women planners — and provide male planners crucial insights for making cities more welcoming and equitable for everyone
Podcast: What’s It Like To Be A Black Planner In California?
CP&DR welcomes a panel of Black planners to share their personal perspectives on the current historical moment and on the future of planning in the era of Black Lives Matter.
Talking Headways Episode 292: The Urban Mystique Part 2
This week we’re back chatting with Josh Stephens, Contributing Editor to the California Planning and Development Report. This week we chat about race, housing, the Olympics, and LA in the movies.
Talking Headways Podcast Episode 291: The Urban Mystique Part 1
This week we’re joined by Josh Stephens, Contributing Editor to the California Planning and Development Report about his new book The Urban Mystique. We had a long conversation about LA, the availability of bars, opposition urban commentators, and historic propositions that might need an update to stay connected to the times.
CP&DR Podcast: Bill Fulton & Josh Stephens on The Urban Mystique
CP&DR Editor Bill Fulton speaks with Contributing Editor Josh Stephens about his new book, The Urban Mystique: Notes on California, Los Angeles, and Beyond.
What Christo Taught Us About Land Use Policy
A cliche about art is that it is supposed to help people see the world differently. Christo literally made the world look different.
COVID Crisis Revives Tactical Urbanism
Low-cost transformation of streets to public — and restaurant — spaces may help enliven city neighborhoods and revive their sales tax bases
The Urban Mystique: Notes on California, Los Angeles, and Beyond
The first book from veteran urban planning journalist Josh Stephens, The Urban Mystique: Notes on California, Los Angeles, and Beyond covers everything from the minutiae of setbacks, the impacts of transit investments, the promise of smart growth and sustainability, and the precariousness of urban politics in the 21st century.
Planners Should Not Let Density Debate Infect Their Work
Many armchair planners are trying to blame the virus crisis on density. Real planners shouldn’t let them get away with it.
The Dreadful Secret Behind a Nearly Perfect Commercial Strip
Many elements of great, but forbidden, urbanism are on display in a bygone version of Los Angeles
Planning Meetings Move Online
Visual depictions of projects remain an issue — though accessibility might actually be improved for some. Brown Act has been loosened for the duration of COVID-19
Housing Development Likely To Crash Because of COVID
Even entitled buildings won’t be built unless they have financing
Solvang Reconsidered
We’re supposed to hate Solvang’s kitsch. But it’s got great bones — for several blocks in all directions
Virus Crisis Forces Planning to Go Virtual
As the coronavirus shuts down California, planning departments across the state are adapting and staying on-task
College Counseling Update 2020
I send warm greetings from Los Angeles and hope you are all healthy and safe wherever you may be. I am in the annual lull following the college application season. My students had a fantastic …