Since December 2022, Los Angeles’s planning department has received plans for more than 13,770 affordable units. The number of units put in the approval pipeline in roughly one year is just below the total number of affordable units approved in Los Angeles in 2020, 2021, and 2022 combined.
The boom in affordable housing plans started after Mayor Karen Bass’s executive order fast-tracked the approval process for housing projects with all their units considered affordable. The order requires the city’s planning department to approve or reject a submitted project within 60 days.
If a project meets a basic set of criteria, it must be approved. No city council hearings, no neighborhood outreach meetings, and no environmental impact studies are required.
The new policy, along with state measures encouraging affordable housing development, has led some developers who have never produced an affordable housing project to take the plunge. The new policy enables developers to start construction in less than a year after acquiring a lot—an unheard of time frame according to a developer quoted in a CalMatters report.
Related Stories
Building Tech | Mar 14, 2023
Reaping the benefits of offsite construction, with ICC's Ryan Colker
Ryan Colker, VP of Innovation at the International Code Council, discusses how municipal regulations and inspections are keeping up with the expansion of off-site manufacturing for commercial construction. Colker speaks with BD+C's John Caulfield.
Multifamily Housing | Mar 14, 2023
Multifamily housing rent rates remain flat in February 2023
Multifamily housing asking rents remained the same for a second straight month in February 2023, at a national average rate of $1,702, according to the new National Multifamily Report from Yardi Matrix. As the economy continues to adjust in the post-pandemic period, year-over-year growth continued its ongoing decline.
Affordable Housing | Mar 14, 2023
3 affordable housing projects that overcame building obstacles
These three developments faced certain obstacles during their building processes—from surrounding noise suppression to construction methodology.
Affordable Housing | Mar 8, 2023
7 affordable housing developments built near historic districts, community ties
While some new multifamily developments strive for modernity, others choose to retain historic aesthetics.
Affordable Housing | Mar 2, 2023
These 9 novel housing communities offer support beyond affordability
Here are nine specialized multifamily developments designed to assist their tenants’ needs.
Mixed-Use | Feb 23, 2023
7 mixed-use developments that don't sacrifice housing affordability
Here are seven mixed-use, multifamily projects dedicated to providing affordable housing.
Affordable Housing | Feb 22, 2023
Passive House, sustainability standards meet multifamily development
These multifamily developments are not only Passive House (PHIUS) certified, but affordable for tenants.
Affordable Housing | Feb 15, 2023
3 multifamily projects dedicated to 100% living affordability
BD+C editors collected over 20 multifamily projects with a focus on affordable housing. These three developments took it to the extreme.
Affordable Housing | Feb 15, 2023
2023 affordable housing roundup: 20+ multifamily projects
In our latest call for entries, Building Design+Construction collected over 20 multifamily projects with a focus on affordable housing. Here is a comprehensive list of all projects in alphabetical order.