Mayor Karen Bass Aims to Accelerate Housing Production to Address Housing Affordability in LA

In a proactive move, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has signed her seventh executive directive, targeting the critical issue of housing affordability within the city. At a recent signing event, Mayor Bass emphasized the need for urgent action to address the soaring costs of housing, affecting both those experiencing homelessness and individuals striving to live in their hometown post-college. The directive outlines a strategic plan to expedite housing production for all income levels, aiming to make a tangible impact on both renters and potential homeowners.

 

Reducing Bureaucratic Hurdles: Key Components of ED7

The directive issues clear instructions to various city departments, urging them to take swift measures to accelerate housing projects. Among the outlined actions are the reduction of processing time for mixed-income housing initiatives, the simplification of bureaucracy hindering adaptive reuse conversions to housing, and the promotion of affordable unit integration across all project types. Additionally, the directive tasks city staff with identifying and eliminating bottlenecks in housing unit delivery. Notably, it emphasizes the elimination of redundant reviews, specifically citing the site plan review process for certain projects.

 

Community-Centric Decision Making: A Pledge from Mayor Bass

Mayor Bass underlines a commitment to inclusive decision-making, assuring that any proposed changes or suggestions will be made in consultation with Angelenos and the communities directly affected. The directive aims to align the city's strategies with the urgent needs of its residents, with a particular focus on expediting the delivery of housing solutions for various income levels. Mayor Bass, drawing on feedback from developers, acknowledges the persistent challenge of project delays leading to increased costs. This directive is a concerted effort to address these concerns head-on.

 

Challenges Unveiled: LA's Struggle to Meet Housing Goals

While Los Angeles has long-standing goals to increase housing stock, recent statistics reveal significant shortfalls. The city has achieved less than half of its targets for low- and very low-income units and less than 10% of the moderate-income housing units outlined in the last regional housing assessment. Deputy Mayor Rachel Freeman highlighted these challenges at the directive signing event, showcasing the urgency of Mayor Bass' multidepartmental approach to housing production.

 

Building on Success: Echoes of Prior Directives

Mayor Bass' approach mirrors the successful strategy employed in her initial executive directive, which focused on expediting approvals for 100% affordable projects. Council Member Nithya Raman, chair of the council's Housing and Homelessness Committee, expressed optimism at the directive signing event, noting that the new directive, ED7, marks a significant step forward in the ongoing efforts to facilitate the creation of much-needed housing in Los Angeles.