• Los Angeles city has notably cut its housing capacity over the years through a series of city planning initiatives in the 20th century.
• Homeowner-led downzoning efforts were one of these landmarks initiatives.
• These efforts were aimed at maintaining the “character” and property values in various residential neighborhoods.
• As a result, the population density in some parts of the city has been dramatically reduced due to a lack of affordable housing.
• This has created significant hurdles in achieving city-wide density goals and meeting housing demands.
Summary of the Case of “Housing Capacity Cuts in Los Angeles”
Twentieth Century City Planning: More Like 20/20 Hindsight
As they say, hindsight is 20/20, and now it seems that LA was more in the thrall of Lasik vision correction rather than sound city planning. Reduction of housing capacity was spurred on mostly by city planners who, with the mindset of the 20th century era, believed that keeping up neighborhood’s character and property values would always be the right move.
The Downzoning Dilemma: Homeowners Going Rogue?
Homeowners weren’t sitting by idly in this saga – oh no, they played the lead role in the downzoning melodrama! They led passionate campaigns aimed at maintaining the “character” of their neighborhoods, viewing increased density and affordable housing as intruders to their established utopia. But the result was something not quite the happily-ever-after they envisioned.
It’s Not All Fun and Games: The Density Fallout
All this ‘character saving’ and ‘value retaining’ had some side-effects, some of which were rather hefty. With the city significantly reducing its housing capacity, the population density has fallen drastically. And not just that, these moves have hoisted some sizable hurdles in achieving city-wide density goals and meeting housing needs.
Hot Take
Who knew reduced housing could create such a saga? The story feels right out of a house-themed soap opera: “As the Home Turns” or “The Bold and the Downzoned”. Whatever you call it, the result is the same. Cities like Los Angeles that once boomed with residents are now grappling with a self-made crisis of underpopulation and unaffordable housing. And all this in the name of ‘maintaining character and property values.’ It seems City Planning 101 needs a core subject update to avoid such reruns. And no, it’s not a laugh track you’re hearing, that’s the sound of city planners frantically trying to reverse their sitcom of errors.
Original article: https://www.inman.com/2023/12/27/how-cities-and-homeowners-zoned-themselves-into-a-housing-crisis/
