UNITED TO KEEP OUR CITY LIVABLE

The State of California is requiring LA to find enough

zoning capacity to accommodate 450,000 new housing

units by 2029. This is enough housing to accommodate

more than 1 million people in the next eight years. The

City is embarking on a major rezoning effort (Housing

Element of the General Plan) that will include adaptive

reuse of existing buildings, use of public lands and rezoning

commercial corridors as well as expanding developer

incentives that allow for increased density and streamlining

the approval processes. But this rezoning also targets

massive rezoning of single-family neighborhoods.

LA Planning has clearly stated there is enough zoning

currently to meet 230,000 units which leaves the city

the need to find zoning for 255,000 units in order to meet

the State mandate. But the Planning Department’s Housing

Element is proposing rezoning for 1.4 million units.

To reach this absurd number, Planning is upzoning large

areas of single-family homes.

United Neighbors (https://www.unitedneighbors.net/)

is a statewide organization made up of renters, homeowners

and community groups, and it includes our Association

and President, Cindy Chvatal Keane. It was created

to inform neighborhood organizations of what is happening

with state laws that impact neighborhoods and how to

find better “community based” solutions for adding much

needed affordable housing without destroying single-family

neighborhoods or low density multi-family neighborhoods.

Using the city’s own data, United Neighbors found

Planning has identified three times more housing capacity

(780,00 units) than is required by state law. Planning

does not need to touch single-family or low density mulitifamily

neighborhoods to meet the required housing needs.

United Neighbors is now working with our and other

neighborhoods throughout Los Angeles, our councilperson

and city government to craft new area-specific options

for meeting housing targets. These targets would preserve

our beautiful, historic and affordable neighborhoods.

But we must act now and get our Councilmember’s attention.

The city is in the process of finalizing a draft of its

plan, scheduled to be released in the fall. The Association

is encouraging the adoption of “Community Based Planning

Solutions” that will provide more equitable and affordable

housing that will preserve all the communities of

Los Angeles while enhancing livability for all. Stay tuned

for how you can become involved!

Visit the website www.HancockPark.org to