The attorney who is helping developers bring over 4,000 units to Santa Monica nearly overnight shares the nuances of the newly powerful Builder’s Remedy.
APA Conference: When Planners Wish Upon a Star
This week’s APA conference is located across the street from the “happiest place on earth” — with “place” in very ironic quotes. Here’s what Disneyland, and Disney’s latest “imagineering” efforts mean for planning today.
The Internal-Combustion Car Did Us A Favor
As California brings the gas-powered car era to a close, let’s remember: It was just awful enough, at just the right moment, to inspire a revolution in land use regulation.
In L.A., a Shopping Center Is Reborn as a Workplace
The May Company department store and Westside Pavilion have been transformed into the Westside’s newest workplace hub.
Emeryville Emerges As Bay Area Pro-Housing Leader
Emeryville has embraced housing on a scale that no other Bay Area city has even considered. In particular, the city hopes to not only meet its Regional Housing Needs Allocation goals, but to exceed it — by as much as 50%.
Cities, Counties Get Ready To Deal With Sea Level Rise
Sea level rise is becoming increasingly unavoidable for planners in coastal California.
Prop 13 Imprisons Californians in Their Homes
Los Angeles is actually ruled by stasis.
Why California Should Not, Cannot Solve Its Housing Crisis By Building New Cities
A recent essay advocates for the development of a new city in California to alleviate the state’s housing crisis. The argument needs a few tweaks.
Reaching for the Heavens
Review of Super Tall, by Stefan Al, about engineering and urbanism in contemporary skyscrapers.
Josh’s 2021 Year-in-Review
It’s cool and all that journalism is “the first draft of history.” Sometimes it would be cooler if the history wasn’t quite so overbearing as it was last year. I can’t complain too much, though. 2021 provided …
Cities Struggle to Comply With Tougher Housing Element Rules
HCD says 70% of draft elements don’t meet the state’s enhanced requirements.
Ballot Initiative Seeks to Override Recent State Housing Laws
An advocacy group led by municipal officials is seeking to put a measure on the ballot that would curtail almost all of Sacramento’s power to influence local planning, zoning, and housing production.
Cities Move Quickly to Regulate SB 9 Housing Units
Some cities are welcoming the units, but others appear to be adopting regulations designed to put up barriers.
The Metaverse Lands in Downtown Los Angeles
The more excited we get about the virtual world, the more the real world will suffer.