UN4LA News - July 2017
A monthly newsletter published by United Neighborhoods for Los Angeles.
UN4LA's mission is to bring communities together to plan for a sustainable future. This city's growth must be shaped by community engagement, not developer dollars.
Contact UN4LA
SB 35 TAKES POWER FROM RESIDENTS AND GIVES IT TO DEVELOPERS
The California legistature will soon vote on SB 35, which would streamline approvals for projects which include a certain number of affordable units. No one can deny that the state is experiencing a housing crisis, but making it easier for developers to push projects through while making it harder for the public to participate is not the answer.
Empowering Developers Will Not Solve Our Housing Problems
THE ASSAULT ON EAST L.A. TENANTS CONTINUES
Anyone who believes high rental prices are just the result of low housing supply needs to read this article. Tenants at a building on Second St. in Boyle Heights are being forced out by a new owner who purchased the property last year. Recent rent hikes ranged from 40% to 80% above what tenants had been paying, even though no repairs or improvements were made to the building.
Boyle Heights Tenants Face Eviction after Double-Digit Rent Increases
IS L.A.'S RAPID GROWTH THE RESULT OF PROPER PLANNING OR RAMPANT SPECULATION?
The Mayor and the City Council seem to believe that all new development is good development, and they've never met a mega-project they didn't like. But in their race to build big and build fast, are they doing the kind of planning that would really lead to a livable, sustainable city? Former city planner Dick Platkin doesn't think so.
City Hall's Universal Fixit: Greenlighting Real Estate Speculation
WESTFIELD HAS BIG PLANS FOR WOODLAND HILLS
Earlier this year developer Westfield unveiled plans for a major project in Woodland Hills. The Promenade 2035 would include 1,432 residential units, 244,000 square feet of retail/restaurant uses, 629,000 square feet of office space, 572 hotel rooms, and an entertainment/sports center containing 15,000 seats. The developer is also asking for a Master Alcohol Permit, and according to the Department of City Planning, that would cover 12 restaurants, 2 hotels, 4 residential buildings (amenity areas), and the entertainment center, though the number and type of alcohol-related uses hasn't been finalized.
Even though the project is close to the Warner Center Orange Line Station, the inclusion of 5,610 parking spaces seems to indicate it's intended to be car-oriented. Add to that the fact that the project description doesn't say anything about affordable units, and it seems that Westfield is gearing the residential units to an affluent demographic that's likely to rely primarily on cars. Some Woodland Hills residents have voiced their concerns. You can learn more from this article published in the Daily News.
Woodland Hills Residents Pan Westfield’s Promenade Mall Plan
FINDING CULTURAL TREASURES IN L.A.'S COMMUNITIES
One of the keys to planning for development in any community is respecting the people who already live there. The Department of Cultural Affairs has begun a two-year program which involves mapping and documenting the cultural treasures contained in LA's neighborhoods. The program includes community gatherings, free events, and support for local artists/cultural practitioners. The city is always changing, but recording the stories, celebrations and rituals that are woven into these communities is an important step toward preserving their identity. Learn more by clicking on the link below.
Promise Zone Arts
