Eli Broad's Vision For Downtown LA

Once called the "king of sprawl", billionaire home-builder Eli Broad has since turned his sites toward revitalizing downtown Los Angeles.

1 minute read

August 7, 2000, 9:00 AM PDT

By Chris Steins @planetizen


This Los Angeles Times feature story on Eli Broad chronicles Broad's career from a suburban homebuilder and king of sprawl to the savior of downtown Los Angeles. "From the late 1950s to the late 1980s, Broad built more houses across suburbia than any man in America, changing the face of big cities from California to New Jersey. No builder did more to spread Los Angeles from sea to mountain to desert than Broad." Now the 67-year-old chairman of SunAmerica, a financial giant that sells insurance, devotes his energy and fortune into reviving downtown Los Angeles, damaged by years of suburban growth.

Thanks to Chris Steins

Sunday, August 6, 2000 in The Los Angeles Times

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Historic homes in St. Augustine, Florida.

Florida Considers Legalizing ADUs

Current state law allows — but doesn’t require — cities to permit accessory dwelling units in single-family residential neighborhoods.

March 18, 2025 - Newsweek

Aerial view of single-family homes with swimming pools in San Diego, California.

San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule

The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.

March 9, 2025 - Axios

Aerial view of suburban housing near Las Vegas, Nevada.

HUD Announces Plan to Build Housing on Public Lands

The agency will identify federally owned parcels appropriate for housing development and streamline the regulatory process to lease or transfer land to housing authorities and nonprofit developers.

March 17, 2025 - The Wall Street Journal

Red and yellow surfboards leaning against fence in Maui, Hawaii.

Surf’s Upcycling: Hawai‘i’s Latest Green Building Material is Recycled Surf Boards

“Surf Blocks” are fire-resistant, termite-proof, and close the loop on mountains of waste from the state’s beloved sport.

March 19 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Group of older people sitting at table indoors laughing.

Building Age-Friendly Homes

Designing for the unique needs of elderly people can help them maintain social connections and mental acuity.

March 19 - Happy Cities

Times Square with Broadway billboards at night.

Nightlife and the 15-Minute City

Plans for compact, walkable cities often don’t address nighttime concerns like transportation and lighting, which can make neighborhoods more vibrant and safe around the clock.

March 19 - Cooperative City