L.A. Contemplates Tiny Apartments: Studios or Slums?
To help encourage development around downtown and increase the supply of affordable housing, planning officials in L.A. want to relax the rules governing the sizes of housing units. Critics argue that the plan will lead to the creation of tenements.
"Is Los Angeles ready for the 250-square-foot apartment?
That's what city planning officials have in mind with a series of sweeping new zoning proposals that would allow developers to build smaller condos and apartments than ever before.
The tiny units — studios that officials hope would be as small as 250 square feet — are part of a package of proposed zoning changes aimed at significantly increasing density in downtown L.A. The rules would apply to the roughly five miles around downtown but could eventually be extended elsewhere in the city.
The idea is to encourage developers to continue to build high-rises downtown even as the market appears poised to slow down — while also spurring them to build units that are more affordable. Supporters — who include the city's top planning officials, some developers and Councilwoman Jan Perry, whose district includes downtown — say the rules will encourage the construction of housing at a time when the city desperately needs it."
"But the proposal — slated to come before the City Council next week — is already drawing criticism from those who see it as another effort to boost development in a region that is already in a high-rise building boom stretching from downtown through Koreatown and into Century City, Westwood and Marina del Rey.
Some land-use experts question whether there is much of a market for tiny apartments in downtown L.A., which, despite its recent resurgence, still lacks the cachet of Manhattan, central London or Paris. Others fear overcrowding and slum conditions if the market goes sour and the units are too densely packed."
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Providing Affordable Housing For Families
It is truly unknown at this point whether there is actually a market for units of the size under discussion by the City Council because, to my knowledge, no such units exist in this market in downtown Los Angeles. However, I do suspect that there is some market for these units. Indeed, their pricing, by L.A. standards would be considered "affordable."
However, I do have some concern that the underpinings of providing affordable housing continue to remain unaddressed by providing affordable units solely at the sizes contemplated. The provision of affordable housing traditionally has also included housing at prices and sizes that make family life possible. Certainly at 250-300 square feet, family life would be very trying indeed.
The City of Los Angeles would be well-advised to provide incentives for developers to include affordable housing at sizes conducive to housing families and households exceeding one person.
David M. Long, Esq.
Principal
Smart Growth Development Advisors, LLC
www.sgdadvisors.com
Thanks for thinking of us
350 SF. I'd say in Downtown LA where an 850 SF loft sets you back $400K, you could get 350 SF for what, $200K? As a yuppie looking to buy into the Downtown LA market, I'd have to say I'd rather move out of LA than live in these types of confines. I mean, why even spend $200K to live surrounded by the barrio when you could just save that money for a real home. Yes, those properties might appreciate, and it would be better to buy them, live in them for a couple of years, then rent them out, but the problem becomes you'd have to live in them. And I doubt you'd find anyone willing to sublet 350 SF for your $1500 mortgage. What are these developers and public leaders thinking??? As a planner for City of LA, I'm disappointed in Gail. Affordable doesn't mean build according to our yuppie means, which in this market would be, yes, 350 SF for $200K, while allowing the developers the same, or even more, profit. It means giving us young buyers a break, even at the expense of developers. Besides, they already have a home, maybe 10!
If you don't want to live there, you don't have to
This type of argument reminds me of the old bumper sticker: "If you don't want abortions, don't have one."
Similarly, if you don't want a 350 SF apartment, don't get one. But what the city is trying to do, if I interpret the story correctly, is give people that choice. Can a family live in this kind of place? Probably not. But they might work fine for someone right out of school.
Very Small Works for Some
A personal anecdote: as a single without children, I find I only use about 350 square feet of my apartment. If apartments of that size existed in my city I believe living in one I could live the same way as I presently do. Obviously it's not for everyone, but different people have different needs, and it would benefit a city to have their needs accommodated. It might not be good for very small dwellings to be concentrated or be the bulk of development in any one area, but it's good that they exist.