Community Plans. The Los Angeles City Planning Department has divided the City into 35 Community Plan Areas — each with its own land use plan and policies. Together these Community Plans make up the Land Use Element of the General Plan and each must be consistent with the big picture set out in the General Plan Framework. The Planning Department holds community meetings to engage neighborhoods in the periodic updating of the Community Plans. You can check with the Planning Department to find out when an update is scheduled for your area.
To see a map of the City and its 35 community planning areas, visit the Los Angeles Department of City Planning's website.
Specific Plans. In addition to preparing plans for an entire community area, the City Planning Department creates Specific Plans. Specific Plans generally cover smaller areas, ranging from a neighborhood to a few city blocks, and address details unique to particular parts of the city. You can find any Specific Plans in your area by visiting the City Planning Department's website.
Balancing growth with preservation. Los Angeles has a wealth of historic buildings that help give the city its unique character. To ensure that these resources are preserved for future generations, the City has created a Historic Preservation Master Plan and 20 Historic Preservation Overlay Zones across the city. The Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Commission is responsible for deciding what structures are important to preserve.
To learn if your neighborhood has historic buildings and for more information on preservation zoning laws and historic districts, see the City Planning Department's website.
The Bryson Apartments in the
Westlake neighborhood of Los Angeles.
A number of historic residential buildings that had fallen into disrepair have been restored and converted into quality affordable housing by non-profit organizations.
A few examples include:
- Mary Andrews Clark Residence in Pico Union that was rehabbed by the Los Angeles Community Design Center.
- Bryson Apartments in Westlake that was rehabbed by the Los Angeles Housing Partnership.
- St. Andrews Bungalow Court in Hollywood that was restored by the Hollywood Community Housing Corporation.
