Addressing Los Angeles’ Housing Shortage with Vacant Lots

Los Angeles faces a significant housing crisis. Despite a growing number of people struggling to access affordable homes, the city has over 20,000 vacant lots zoned for housing. This missed opportunity might inspire new pathways to homeownership. A recent initiative aims to demonstrate the potential of these lots for creating affordable housing through designs like duplexes, fourplexes, and townhome communities. These are priced more accessibly compared to traditional single-family homes.

Reviving Starter Homes

Dana Cuff, director of UCLA’s cityLAB, emphasizes the need for a new generation of starter homes. This initiative, part of the “Small Lots, Big Impacts” project, aspires to convert vacant properties into affordable housing opportunities. Los Angeles’ architectural history features small-scale, multiunit housing formats, which have mostly served as rental units or high-end properties. Recently, zoning laws have changed, allowing more vacant lots to develop small-scale complexes available for individual sale.

Emmanuel Proussaloglou, co-director of cityLAB, points out that affordable homeownership is lacking in the market. If executed successfully, this venture may establish a foundation for making such housing attainable. Many areas of Los Angeles have seen inadequate housing development, especially compared to downtown’s rapid growth in high-rise apartments. New development plans often encounter resistance from local groups, yet proponents believe focusing on smaller, denser lots can integrate seamlessly into existing neighborhoods.

Small Lots, Big Plans

The project selects three designer-developer teams to implement pilot housing projects. These aim to bring “multifamily, attainable homeownership projects” to life, transforming vacant lots into middle-density housing units. Genesis L.A. provides financial and regulatory support, including loans, while a portion of homes will be reserved for low- or middle-income buyers.

The initiative also leverages support from LA4LA, the city of Los Angeles, and BMO bank. The strategy shows developers and buyers how these lots can reintroduce starter homes. Cuff emphasizes the feasibility of lower entry prices, increasing the flexibility and attractiveness of housing options, such as outdoor access and community spaces.

Pilot Projects Take Shape

Christian Stayner from Stayner Architects leads one of the pilot teams. With a 6,000-square-foot lot on L.A.’s Eastside — previously used for storage — the project benefits from cityLAB and legislative changes, pushing to overcome previous hurdles.

The proposed design will incorporate six separate units in a single building, each individually owned. The other teams aim to acquire vacant lots, offering different visions such as cooperative ownership models and prefabricated materials for expedited construction.

Cuff sees the variety in these pilot projects as an inspiration for others. She describes it as a model for the next generation, where developers and designers interpret their visions based on these examples. Officials expect the groundbreaking of these projects before next summer.