South L.A. Housing Project First to Use New 'Transit Oriented Community' Incentives

An affordable apartment complex in South L.A. appears to be the first project to request incentives under Los Angeles's new Transit Oriented Community (TOC) Guidelines, Steven Sharp reports for Urbanize LA.

Adopted in September, the guidelines offer incentives for building affordable housing near transit and paying prevailing wages. They were mandated by Measure JJJ, the countywide ballot measure approved by voters in November 2016; opponents argued they would deter construction.

The proposed project would replace an auto repair garage with a 51-unit apartment complex, with all but one designated for extremely low-income households. It has requested additional height allowance and exemption from yard setback requirements, and is also eligible for parking reductions and FAR increases, according to Sharp.