Victor Tran
Victor Tran is a recent graduate from the Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at McGill University, located in Montreal, Quebec. His post-graduate travels have brought him to Los Angeles, California where he works for a non-profit organization building gardens in public schools and teaching weekly ecology classes. Aspiring to become an environmental planner, Victor is interested in social justice and urban environmental sustainability through the revitalization of public spaces.
Farewell to The Grid from Victor Tran in Los Angeles, California
by Victor Tran
When I first started my internship with The Grid, I had just moved to Los Angeles. To tell you the truth, I didn’t really know what to expect. I saw Los Angeles as an opportunity to experience living in a major Ameri... Read article
The California Environmental Quality Act's Effect on Development in Los Angeles
by Victor Tran
The California Environmental Quality Act, commonly referred to as CEQA, is a state law that requires all agencies to identify and mitigate significant environmental impacts caused by their proposed projects. Ronald R... Read article
Los Angeles, California's Baseline Mansionization Ordinance Loophole Fix
by Victor Tran
Throughout Los Angeles, communities are changing due to a phenomenon dubbed “mansionization,” which the LA City Planning Department defines as "... new construction or additions on residentially zoned lots that are o... Read article
Re:code LA: Updating Los Angeles' 1946 Zoning Code
by Victor Tran
Re:code LA, an ambitious 5-year process to update the zoning code in Los Angeles, is undoubtedly one of the city’s biggest projects, in addition to new plans guiding health and transportation. Zoning code refers to c... Read article
New Ordinances Aimed at Revitalizing Los Angeles River Communities
by Victor Tran
In recent years, momentum has been building to recognize the Los Angeles River as an integral part of the city’s cultural identity. After many years of neglect, the river has the potential to help define future commu... Read article
Los Angeles' Eco-Village Proves Intentional is Possible in Urban Settings
by Victor Tran
Consisting of two city blocks in the intensely-urban, working-class neighborhood of Koreatown, the Los Angeles Eco-Village is one of the few intentional communities that exist in Los Angeles. What exactly is an eco-v... Read article
Los Angeles' Metro Public Art Funding: The Benefits of Cultural Planning
by Victor Tran
Last weekend, I was fortunate enough to participate in an event put on by the American Planning Association showcasing public art pieces in different Metro transit stations. Metro, also known as the Los Angeles Count... Read article
Los Angeles, California Announces New Plans in Anticipation of “The Big One”
by Victor Tran
In a large metropolitan region like Los Angeles County, California, preparing for disasters, both natural and man-made, is a huge governmental concern. With a population of just over 10 million people, Los Angeles Co... Read article
Placemaking Opportunities from The Los Angeles River's Revitalization
by Victor Tran
In response to a pair of deadly floods in the late 1930’s, the US Army Corps of Engineers were called in to control the Los Angeles River. In doing so, most of the river was encased in concrete – it wasn’t until roug... Read article
Three Developments Respond to Chronic Homelessness in Los Angeles, California
by Victor Tran
The issue of homelessness has largely been ignored in Los Angeles. Tactics such as criminalizing and physically displacing homeless individuals have been the methods of choice. With the combined effects of a growing ... Read article
Gentrification and Dislocation of Los Angeles' Urban Poor Leading to Homelessness
by Victor Tran
Known for being a city of extremes, Los Angeles has an extremely high homeless population. In 2013, it was estimated that 54,000 individuals were homeless within Los Angeles County. Government officials are still unc... Read article
New Urban Agriculture Regulations Sprouting in Los Angeles, California
by Victor Tran
Personally inspired by the documentary “Plant This Movie,” as well as the many other urban farming short films shown at the New Urbanism Film Festival, it appears that urban agriculture is in full swing in Los Angeles. I... Read article
LA2050 Spurs Conversations for a Better Los Angeles, California
by Victor Tran
As a newcomer to Los Angeles, I am beginning to see that people here are hungry for change. Initiatives that exist to better L.A. are numerous, most falling within the realm of the non-profit. The scope of these init... Read article