Los Angeles Housing Solution: Utilizing Vacant Lots

Los Angeles faces a significant housing challenge. The city has over 20,000 vacant lots zoned for residential use. These lots remain unused, presenting a paradox in a city with a severe housing shortage.

A new initiative seeks to tap into this potential by promoting the development of these vacant lots into affordable homes. The focus is on creating ‘gentle density’ housing such as duplexes, fourplexes, and townhome communities.

Cuff remarked that there hasn’t been a new generation of starter homes since World War II; the initiative aims to revive that concept.

Historical Context of Small-Scale Housing in L.A.

L.A. has a rich tradition of small-scale, multiunit housing. This ranges from grand Spanish Colonial duplexes to courtyard apartments and mid-century ‘dingbat’ complexes. Historically, these have been offered as rentals or high-end purchases.

Recent changes in zoning laws have expanded opportunities for these types of developments. Previously, almost 75% of the city’s residential areas were zoned only for single-family homes. Now, there are more options to develop small-scale complexes on vacant lots.

Affordable Homeownership Opportunities

The initiative identifies affordable homeownership as a major gap in the current market. Emmanuel Proussaloglou of cityLAB expressed hope that these projects would address this gap and offer more reasonably priced homes.

Los Angeles has struggled to build enough housing outside of areas like downtown. Initiatives often face resistance from local residents, but the current plan focuses on smaller lots suitable for increased density without altering neighborhood character.

Implementation and Support

CityLAB’s analysis uncovered over 20,000 suitable vacant lots. While these account for only 2% of privately owned parcels, they hold significant potential for impact.

The project, ‘Small Lots, Big Impacts,’ has announced three designer-developer teams to pilot developments. Each team will construct unique housing complexes on small lots with at least five separate units, offering both market-rate and below-market-rate homes.

Financial support includes low-interest loans from Genesis L.A., with additional backing from LA4LA, the city, and BMO Bank. The project aims to model affordable housing possibilities in L.A., demonstrating feasibility at a lower entry price.

Promising Developments

The cityLAB initiative initially explored city-owned lots for similar projects, but progress has been slower than anticipated. The shift to privately owned lots offers new possibilities.

Christian Stayner of Stayner Architects is leading one project, planning a building with six individual units. Each unit will be owned separately, inspired by support from cityLAB and recent legislative changes. Potential projects by other teams include alternative homeownership models and prefabricated construction.

This variety in approach is a key aspect of the pilot program. Cuff described it as ‘a Noah’s Ark for the next generation of L.A.’ It sets the stage for future developments.

The teams are expected to begin construction by next summer, offering insight into feasible solutions for L.A.’s housing crisis.