Outsiders stereotype Los Angeles as car-addicted, polluted and lacking in public transit. But the City of Angels has undergone major changes over the past few decades.

LA is moving toward a greener future, friendlier to pedestrians, metro users and bicyclists. There are various development projects planned, particularly in downtown and Hollywood, which are becoming more dense and vertically-built. These projects preserve historic architecture while adding apartments, parks, retail and entertainment.

These 20 architectural renderings give us a glimpse into a stunning Los Angeles of the future...

1. Park 101
Park 101 would cover a portion of the 101 freeway in downtown with a park. As it's currently envisioned, Park 101 would connect the Civic Center (south of the freeway) with Olvera Street, Chinatown and Union Station (north of the freeway). In August, the LA City Council unanimously approved a motion to seek funding for the proposal. There are also proposed plans for parks built on top of freeways - called cap parks - in Santa Monica, Hollywood, Glendale and Ventura.

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2. Greenway 2020
The Greenway 2020 project aims to create a continuous 51-mile corridor that will run along a restored LA River by 2020. "Instead of crowded streets and honking horns on your morning commute, imagine chirping birds, flowing water and numerous coffee shops along the way to work," the project site reads. The river will also become a recreational destination for kayaking, fishing, picnicking and even yoga classes or bike-in movies.

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Courtesy of Port Architecture and Urbanism, LLC in partnership with LA River Revitalization Corporation

3. High-Speed Rail
The California High-Speed Rail is a planned high-speed bullet train that would run from Los Angeles to San Francisco in under three hours. Initial funding for the over-300-mile-long project was approved by California voters in 2008, and, although there have been legal setbacks, the state legislature overwhelmingly supports the project. California high-speed rail officials said Dec. 5 that engineering work, hiring and property buying are on pace and that construction will begin in January or February using federal money. The rail is expected to be completed in 2029.

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> via Huffingtonpost