News about rents, zoning changes, and other issues related to the cost of housing.
This article also appears at Streetsblog Los Angeles. Readers of Streetsblog that have gotten used to our legislative updates over the past decade will notice a few format changes. This update is doing the bills in order of their bill…
The following is a submission from the City of Santa Monica The city celebrates Fair Housing Month this April with a free symposium on local fair housing laws and housing discrimination at the Main Library. The city has also announced…
Council Members Unsure of an Amendment to State Legislation on Housing As a whole, the city council is currently uncomfortable with a request to amend pending legislation to allow energy-efficient and other environmental improvements to existing housing stock. On Tuesday…
The following is a submission from Venice Community Housing. Venice Community Housing, a nonprofit affordable housing developer and service provider, broke ground today on Santa Monica’s newest affordable housing development, 20th Street Apartments. Developed in partnership with Community Corporation of…
The Santa Monica City Council has reaffirmed its commitment to keeping its lowest-income residents housed. On Tuesday evening, the city council heard public comments and a staff presentation on the Santa Monica Housing Authority’s (SMHA) five-year plan for 2025-2030 (Agenda,…
This story also appears at Streetsblog California. Flanked by Bay Area elected officials and advocates from the Yes in My BackYard (YIMBY) movement, Senator Scott Wiener (D-SF) held a press event at the Daly City BART Station Friday morning to…
The city council continues to move forward with commitments to Santa Monica’s 6th Cycle Housing Element. On Tuesday evening, the council passed a resolution setting a timeline in motion that should result in the development of 1,880 affordable housing units…
On Thursday, the city will hold a virtual public hearing for the 100-unit apartment building planned for 1320 Pico Boulevard at 6:30 p.m. The meeting will be held on zoom, and you can access it by clicking here at the…
Tonight, the City of Santa Monica Architectural Review Board is scheduled to review the proposed design, colors, materials and landscape plans for the 100% affordable housing project for seniors proposed for the city-owned parking lot at 1211-1217 14th Street and…
Los Angeles County has been grappling with a housing shortage for years, a crisis that has manifested in crippling rent burdens, widespread displacement, and a shameful number of residents forced to endure substandard living conditions. This pre-existing vulnerability has now…
The Palisades Fire, a devastating wildfire that has ravaged the Westside of Los Angeles, has caused immense destruction and loss. My heart goes out to all those impacted by this tragedy. However, as a trained urban planner who often thinks…
This post first appeared on The Healthy City Local. Earlier this year I wrote a post about two development projects that were staggering through the approvals process in Santa Monica. One was an apartment building on Lincoln Boulevard, replacing worn-out automobile repair…
As much as many like to complain about the legal fees racked up by the City of Santa Monica, the City Attorney’s Office is on a winning streak when it comes to the city’s highest profile lawsuits. Following a string…
Via Press Release: At its meeting on Tuesday, May 22, the Santa Monica City Council approved an ordinance to amend the City’s Zoning Ordinance regarding standards for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). An ADU is a dwelling unit providing complete independent…
Legislation authored by Senator Ben Allan, S.B. 961 is winding it’s way through the state legislature. The “Neighborhood Infill Finance and Transit Improvement Districts Legislation” would allow municipalities to raise funds through infrastructure finance districts without seeking voter approval, provided…
