Around transit stops and along boulevards. Concentrating development around transit stops and along boulevards has a number of benefits besides protecting single-family neighborhoods.
- Making public transit more workable for more people
The more people who use a particular transit route the more efficient it is for the Metro to offer more frequent service. The more frequent the service, the more workable public transit becomes for busy people. If the bus, subway, or light rail near where you live runs every 10 minutes to your work, it may be cheaper, faster and more pleasant for you to use public transit rather than to fight the traffic and pay for parking. The key factors here are: 1) frequent service; 2) stops near your home; 3) stops near your work. The more offices, shops, apartments, and condominiums we put near transit hubs, the more people have all three.
- Lower impact on traffic congestion
We in Southern California nurture our love affair with the car, even after we have outgrown it. Many of us long for days gone by, but the stark reality is this City would come to a standstill if everyone relied solely on private automobiles for transportation. If we think about moving people, rather than moving cars, the importance of public transportation becomes clear in reducing congestion. With viable public transit, more families can get by with one car or none at all. Either fewer cars or each car being used less will reduce traffic.
- Reduces need for parking
People who arrive to their destination by bus, subway, bicycle or on foot don't require a parking space. Learn more about parking requirements.
Distressed commercial boulevards. There are many miles of boulevards in Los Angeles lined with one and two story, aging commercial buildings. Because we have an overabundance of commercially zoned land, these boulevards have lost their economic lifespan and vibrancy. By clustering the businesses together, and building new apartments and condominiums in between the clusters, we can revitalize these sagging commercial strips.
- New homes mean new customers for neighborhood services
Replacing marginal commercial buildings with higher density apartments and condominiums expands the customer base for the neighborhood businesses and contributes to increased vitality.
- New housing creates more vibrant streets
People, rather than cars or parking lots, create a vibrant and interesting street. People walking, shopping, running errands, eating in restaurants, talking to their neighbors on the street all come together to create a vibrant place. When people live above and near shops and offices, it gives them a reason to walk down the street.
Vacant lots and run down buildings. Targeting the vacant lots and abandoned or neglected buildings in a community for redevelopment is an excellent way to improve a neighborhood while creating new housing.
- Eliminates nuisances
In too many neighborhoods vacant lots and vacant buildings become magnates for graffiti, dumping, or crime. Converting these nuisance properties to well-managed affordable apartments not only gets rid of a problem for the neighborhood and the police, but it will also raise property values for the neighbors nearby.
- Restores historic buildings
Some of our treasured historic buildings fall into disrepair over time and the owners don't have the desire or resources to fix them up. A number of nonprofit housing developers have purchased such properties and restored them to their former elegance while also creating quality affordable homes for low-income people. This approach can be part of a revitalization strategy for a block or neighborhood.
- Take advantage of surface parking lots
A number of developers have built affordable housing on land that was once used as a surface parking lots. In some cases, the new developments incorporate replacement parking as well new apartments and parking for the new residents.
For example, an 83-unit senior housing development on Dickens Street in Sherman Oaks was built over a city parking lot. The development contains separate parking areas on the ground floor for residents and the general public using commercial area a half block away.
Senior Housing in Sherman Oaks
was built over a parking lot.
