Is Los Angeles Ready To Adopt Inclusionary Zoning?

"Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa called Wednesday for a law that would require new housing developments in Los Angeles to include units affordable to the poor and middle-class -- an idea floated unsuccessfully by city officials two years ago amid opposition from developers and neighborhood groups.

Villaraigosa said the proposal was necessary to address a housing crisis that has made it difficult for even middle-income families to afford a home, chipping away at the very workforce that stabilizes the local economy.

Housing created by such laws is usually targeted at individuals or families who make below-average salaries. The average household income in Los Angeles is about $44,000, while the median price of a home is more than $400,000 and average rents are more than $1,500 in many places, according to city officials.

Acknowledging that his plan could scare off some developers, Villaraigosa said he would try to help projects stay cost-effective by offering incentives, such as giving builders the right to construct more units or to set aside less space for parking. Villaraigosa's aides said they were still debating whether the plan would apply citywide or just along mass transit corridors."