Recent Streetsblog LA posts about Urban Design

Human Transit: Should L.A. Develop Like Paris or N.Y.?

By Damien Newton | Jul 24, 2009 | 18 Comments

Photo of Downtown L.A.: David Galvan/Flickr For a decade Los Angeles has tried to build-up it’s urban core in an effort to densify and change the character of the city from its sprawling reputation to a more traditionally urban one. However, instead of modeling its growth after that of New York, a pattern formerly referred […]

Obama’s Agenda for Cities: Enough Talk

By Ryan Avent | Jul 14, 2009 | No Comments

In closing his speech to a roundtable on urban and metropolitan issues, given yesterday at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, Barack Obama quoted Chicago architect Daniel Burnham, who famously urged men to "make no small plans." It’s a nice line for leaders with big goals, but it’s worth noting that Burnham wasn’t all talk. Does […]

City Approves New Ped. Friendly Design Standard for the Downtown

By Damien Newton | Apr 29, 2009 | 2 Comments

The New Genesis Apartments Will Comply with New Proposed Pedestrian Standards Back in January, the LA Downtown News reported on exciting new design standards for new development in the Downtown which will lead to wider sidewalks, landscaped parkways and medians, and bring additional streetlights, trees and street parking to Downtown. The standards, approved last week […]

Obama’s Touted Office of Urban Policy Slow to Take Shape

By Sarah Goodyear | Apr 28, 2009 | No Comments

When Barack Obama was elected, urbanists were, in some cases literally, dancing in the streets. For once, America had elected a president who understood the importance of cities — and who promised to create an "Office for Urban Policy" that would help those cities to take their rightful place in the federal policy debate. But, […]

Holmby-Westwood Furious at Jack Weiss’ Plan to Remove Traffic Calming

By Damien Newton | Apr 7, 2009 | 15 Comments

Photo of Palazzo by Matthew Correia via LA Urban Design Studio Westwood residents are furious with Councilman Jack Weiss and the LADOT over a resolution appearing on tomorrow’s City Council Transportation Committee Agenda which would strip traffic calming off of local streets that were placed in February of 2008 as a "pilot program." The Holmby-Westwood […]

Draft CEQA Standards Aim to Relax Parking Rules

By Damien Newton | Jan 22, 2009 | 3 Comments

CEQA Standards Require Projects to Provide Adequate Car Parking. However, that May Change. Recently, Governor Schwarzenegger has come under fire for calling on President Obama to relax environmental rules to help stimulate the economy. However, new proposed environmental standards may finally be changing the way the government looks at transportation and development. Anytime a […]

Show More Stories