An Idea to Help Spur L.A.’s Cleantech Revolution

City officials and leaders are considering an adaptive reuse ordinance for industrial buildings, modeled on the one that helped spark downtown L.A.’s residential boom, to help push forward the sputtering vision of a "CleanTech Corridor."

2 minute read

October 19, 2012, 11:00 AM PDT

By Jessica Hsu


For years, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Los Angeles business leaders, along with the city's now defunct redevelopment agency, have been pushing to "transform the eastern edge of Downtown into a hub for green jobs and clean technology companies." The area has "a significant stock of old warehouses and factory buildings that haven't seen heavy manufacturing operations in decades," which have leaders salivating at the thought of the city's next manufacturing revolution. One small problem stands in the way, reports Ryan Vallaincourt: "[b]ringing those century-old industrial edifices up to current codes, however, looms over property owners like a dollar sign-shaped storm cloud."

"The sheer labor and cost it would take to go ahead and repurpose those buildings, to bring them up to current codes and adaptability to the type of machinery we were looking at, didn't make sense," said Erick Johnson, president and CEO of Greneker Solutions, who were looking to invest $1 million in creating a facility to manufacture countertops out of recycled materials. This challenge has prompted local leaders to consider an adaptive reuse ordinance, similar to the one that spurred downtown's wave of condo conversions, that "would in theory reduce red tape, ease strict code regulations and lower costs" and kick start the vision of the CleanTech Corridor.

Vallaincourt warns that adaptive reuse will not be an easy solution. "A new ordinance would have to minimize parking requirements, and it might have to coincide with a separate push for more mass transit infrastructure in the area," suggests Brad Cox, senior managing director of Trammell Crow. However, "the land use challenges facing the Cleantech Corridor are likely to get attention at City Hall in the future," notes Vallaincourt, "if only because they city has already invested in the cleantech vision, though not always with success."

Tuesday, October 16, 2012 in Los Angeles Downtown News

View form second story inside Southdale Mall in Edina, Minnesota with escalators and model cars parked on downstairs floor.

The Mall Is Dead — Long Live the Mall

The American shopping mall may be closer to its original vision than ever.

March 21, 2024 - Governing

Houston, Texas skyline.

Report: Las Vegas, Houston Top List of Least Affordable Cities

The report assesses the availability of affordable rental units for low-income households.

March 22, 2024 - Urban Edge

View of Austin, Texas skyline with river in foreground during morning golden hour.

The Paradox of American Housing

How the tension between housing as an asset and as an essential good keeps the supply inadequate and costs high.

March 26, 2024 - The Atlantic

Aerial view of Anchorage, Alaska downtown with mountains in background at golden hour.

Anchorage Leaders Debate Zoning Reform Plan

Last year, the city produced the fewest new housing units in a decade.

11 minutes ago - Anchorage Daily News

Young man in wheelchair crossing zebra crosswalk.

How to Protect Pedestrians With Disabilities

Public agencies don’t track traffic deaths and injuries involving disabled people, leaving a gap in data to guide safety interventions.

1 hour ago - Governing

Aerial view of mountain town of Steamboat Springs, Colorado in the winter with snow at dusk.

Colorado Town Fills Workforce Housing Need With ‘Dorm-Style’ Housing

Median rent in Steamboat Springs is $4,000 per month.

2 hours ago - CBS News

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.