>> LA streets get Google Maps Street View. Some of the images are oldish — Zach at LAist did some investigative work to uncover photos taken 2 years ago. (screenshot from Gmaps)
>> LA’s getting denser housing downtown. Buildings can be built closer together, with smaller units.
>> LA cookie lovers get a yummy bake sale: No Cookie Left Behind. Eat cookies, cupcakes, cakes, tarts, granola, baklava, brownies and more; proceeds go to Share Our Strength, an organization that combats childhood hunger in the US. Happens Aug 18, 2007 12 pm to 4 pm at Scoops Ice Cream Shop, 712 N. Heliotrope, Los Angeles. (Via Franklin Ave; image from NCLB.)
The good thing about the zoning is that not everyone who works downtown can afford those snazzy new lofts. The bad thing is that not everyone who wants to live an urban lifestyle works downtown. Without the transportation infrastructure, how is this supposed to do anything but increase traffic congestion? I know it’s harder to build a public transit system than to change a regulation, but shouldn’t there be some acknowledgment of the need for changes on more than one front?
Comment by Kate — August 9, 2007 @ 6:29 am
thanks for posting about our bake sale! hope to see you there! =)
Comment by tannaz — August 9, 2007 @ 7:53 am
There’s actually a great transportation system downtown already — I find it a lot easier to get there and around via transit than struggling with traffic and parking in a car. I do think an acknowledgment that people who live and work downtown need to be encouraged to take public transit should be made — and that disincentives for using a car — plus incentives for taking public transit — should be more strongly enforced.
Comment by Siel — August 9, 2007 @ 9:10 am
I agree it’s great, if you live and work downtown. But how many people who live–or theoretically will live–downtown will also be working there? I suspect that many will still have commutes to other parts of town. Will they be using the public transit system as it exists now, or will lots of them continue to rely on their cars? How can the city work to move them into public transit? Those are the questions that aren’t answered by the changes to the zoning regulations.
Comment by Anonymous — August 9, 2007 @ 9:47 am
Weird–that last comment was mine. Not sure why it posted as “Anonymous.”
Comment by Kate — August 9, 2007 @ 8:53 pm