LA Plan to Rezone Multifamily Housing Could Displace Tenants from Rent-Controlled Units
A Citywide Housing Incentive Program ordinance to be heard by the City Council’s Planning and Land Use Management Committee on Tuesday would supercharge building incentives for developers while displacing tenants in older units, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Proposed Legislation
The proposed legislation would give builders a break on height and parking if they include a certain percentage of affordable units and the property is near transit, a major street, and jobs and schools.
Projects that are 100 percent affordable would be eligible for incentives across a wider part of the city.
Concerns from Tenant and Housing Advocates
A coalition of tenant and housing advocates, including the ACT-LA coalition, is concerned that the proposed zoning change could lead to tenant displacement.
“[This] housing stock is the reason working-class Angelenos are able to stay in Los Angeles,” Laura Raymond, director of the ACT-LA coalition, told the Times. “It doesn’t make sense to have this huge cornerstone of our housing policy solution be at risk.”
State-Mandated Housing Goal
Los Angeles struggles to meet a state-mandated housing goal that it plan for 457,000 homes — nearly half of which would be affordable to low-income families — by 2029. Of that, 255,000 homes would be created via land rezoning.
Tenant Protections
Under a separate proposal to be heard by the PLUM Committee, low-income residents displaced by demolition would have the right to either move into the new apartment complex at their prior rent or at rent deemed affordable to their income, whichever is lower.
Those residents would also typically receive expanded relocation assistance to help them afford rent in a market-rate unit, according to the city, which estimates such payments to some tenants could surpass $100,000.
Conclusion
The proposed zoning change has raised concerns among tenant and housing advocates, who fear that it could lead to tenant displacement and undermine the city’s rent control ordinance. While the city claims to be taking steps to increase protections for departing tenants, the impact of the proposed change remains unclear.
FAQs
Q: What is the proposed zoning change?
A: The proposed zoning change would give builders a break on height and parking if they include a certain percentage of affordable units and the property is near transit, a major street, and jobs and schools.
Q: What are the concerns from tenant and housing advocates?
A: Tenant and housing advocates are concerned that the proposed zoning change could lead to tenant displacement and undermine the city’s rent control ordinance.
Q: What are the state-mandated housing goals?
A: Los Angeles is required to plan for 457,000 homes — nearly half of which would be affordable to low-income families — by 2029. Of that, 255,000 homes would be created via land rezoning.
Q: What are the proposed tenant protections?
A: Low-income residents displaced by demolition would have the right to either move into the new apartment complex at their prior rent or at rent deemed affordable to their income, whichever is lower. They would also receive expanded relocation assistance to help them afford rent in a market-rate unit.
