Journalists recently gathered in Cambridge, Mass., to learn about and discuss the nation’s land use trends. California featured prominently, for better or worse.
What Japan Gets Right (A Partial List)
A few lessons on cities and urban life as observed on a recent trip to Tokyo and Kyoto.
Frank Gehry’s Star Quality Outshined His Urbanism
Los Angeles-based “starchitect” Frank Gehry died at the age of 96. His fame is undeniable. His influence on cities is more complicated.
In 40 Years, Urbanism has Surged while Journalism has Faded
California Planning and Development Report celebrates its 40th anniversary—reflections on the trends of the past forty years and what’s in store for the future.
“Freedom Cities” Won’t Liberate California
A harebrained scheme for a new city near Oakland exemplifies a woefully misguided approach to city-building
Why Hollywood and the Housing Industry Need Each Other
Making movies and developing real estate are uncannily similar processes. In Los Angeles, they work at cross-purposes, to everyone’s detriment.
We Don’t Have A Wildfire Crisis. We Have An Everything Crisis.
On the Palisades Fire, as observed from the edge of the evacuation zone
Good Riddance to Chevron
In Chevron’s absence, California can pursue sustainability goals–locally and globally–even more enthusiastically. It can speed the adoption of electric vehicles and renewable energy (which, on a good day, sometimes accounts for more than 100% of the state’s energy).
Not Enough Shells For California’s Hermit Crabs
Populations change even if they don’t grow. That’s why California needs more housing even though the population is stagnant
Las Vegas’ Opportunity to Learn from California
Nevada officials want Las Vegas to expand even further, by opening federal land to development. As too many places in California illustrate, that’s a recipe for sprawl, but not for a better city
Costco Gets Creative with Mixed-Use Big Box
Using a clever combination of local and state housing incentives, Costco is getting into the housing business in South Los Angeles
Will Waymo Help Urbanism — Or Hurt It?
For nearly as long as I’ve followed planning and transportation, the running joke, recited in conference sessions and at happy hours, has been that self-driving cars are at least five years away — and always will be.
California: Where Prosperity Means Decline
Unfortunately for everyone involved, six California cities are on a recently published list of the “18 Fastest-Declining Cities in the U.S.”
Year-in-Review 2023
A roundup of highlights from California Planning & Development Report, InTransition, CommonEdge, and more in 2023.
The Las Vegas Sphere: A Placeless Object in a Placeless City
The Sphere is technologically astonishing, but it’s not great for placemaking
Maybe Orange County Should Be As Dense As San Francisco
Orange County has an aversion to density. That’s an opportunity for some intrepid city.
Does Density Lead To Affordability?
Whether you’re Cambridge or Canada or anyplace in between, urban economics will always involve combinations of alchemy, soothsaying, and dead reckoning.