City-owned sites in Hollywood and Mid-Wilshire considered for affordable housing

A pair of city-owned sites located near Wilshire and Hollywood Boulevards are being primed for redevelopment with affordable or supportive housing, according to twin motions introduced on June 15 by Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman.

"The affordable housing shortage and corresponding homelessness crisis across Los Angeles necessitate the development of viable City-owned properties as 100 percent affordable housing and/or permanent supportive housing," reads Raman's motion, which has been referred to the Council's Housing Committee for consideration.

The first site, located at 738 S. Cochran Avenue in Mid-Wilshire, currently functions as a 41-car LADOT parking lot serving businesses on the Miracle Mile.

The second property, located a few blocks north of the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1905 N. Highland Avenue, is currently vacant save for two billboards.

Raman's motion direct city staff to study the feasibility of redeveloping both sites with affordable housing, and, depending on the findings, directs the City Administrative Officer to begin the process of initiating a request for proposals to require developers.  A report back would be expected within 45 days.

Concurrently, Raman has also introduced a motion which, if adopted, would direct the Planning Department, Housing Department, and Department of Building and Safety to develop a plan to streamline the approval of 100 percent affordable housing projects citywide.  Raman's motion suggests five potential strategies for speeding approval times, including modifying site plan review thresholds (which are currently imposed on projects with 50 or more residential units or 50,000 square feet of floor area) and shortening appeal periods.

"We’ve seen over and over the real barriers affordable housing developers face in this city," said Raman in a Tweet.   "If we want more affordable housing, we must make it easier and faster to build."

Raman joins a chorus of state and local policy makers who, faced with a growing number of unhoused constituents, have attempted to speed the construction of permanent supportive housing.