Another SB 827? Ambitious California Housing Bill Isn't Quite Dead Yet

Earlier this year, the much-talked-about SB 827 died in committee. But State Senator Scott Wiener, who introduced it, is apparently undeterred. As Alissa Walker reports, "Wiener says he has been working closely with some of the groups that initially opposed the bill, and he met with transit coalition ACT-LA while in LA for the Los Angeles Business Council’s housing summit last week. The senator says he plans to bring a version of the bill back to the Senate floor in 2019 with the input of advocates incorporated."

SB 827 ambitiously called for much looser height, density, and parking rules for construction within a half-mile of transit stations, a step many stakeholders vehemently opposed, including the entirety of L.A.'s city council. "Wiener said LA City Councilmembers who focused on displacement as a reason for rejecting the bill could put better protections in place, including strong inclusionary housing requirements," Walker writes. 

"The new version of the bill would include specific exemptions for what [Wiener] called 'communities of concern'—areas that are either experiencing intense gentrification or are on the precipice."

Walker notes that in Los Angeles, "nearly half of all developable land" is zoned for single-family homes. While Wiener may be able to accommodate the equity crowd, he'll still face an upward political battle on the density question.