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Back to Design and Architecture

Design and Architecture

Does Luxury Housing Trickle Down to Affordable Apartments?

Can you create affordable housing by building luxury towers? A boom in development of large apartment towers has prompted a fight for a two-year moratorium on new projects that don't comply with the city's general plan. But planners say this moratorium will stymie efforts to create much-needed affordable housing. We visit the people at the heart of a development fight.

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By Frances Anderton • Mar 8, 2016 • 29m Listen

In Koreatown, activists are trying to stop a 27 storey tower on the site of 14 low-rise, affordable apartments. In Hollywood, some residents are trying to stop the towering Palladium Residences; others are trying to defeat eviction from old buildings whose owners want them rezoned as hotels and large towers.

And they are adding their support to the Neighborhood Integrity Initiative, a ballot box effort for a two-year moratorium on new projects that don't comply with the city's general plan. But planners and developers say this moratorium will stymie efforts to create much-needed affordable housing.

We visit the people at the heart of a development fight that brings up charges of soft political corruption and competing visions over the future of LA.

Photo: Rendering of the Palladium Residences, a pair of towers that are planned for construction in Hollywood. (Crescent Heights)

More

  • Activists seek ballot measure for moratorium on LA 'mega projects'

  • Cuff op-ed on Palladium Residences filling the need for LA housing

  • Why anti-development ballot measure could be dangerous for LA

  • Top 7 reasons to oppose the Los Angeles Neighborhood Integrity Initiative

  • Beware the selfish interests of those dismissing the Neighborhood Integrity Initiative

  • Beware the selfish interests of those dismissing the Neighborhood Integrity Initiative

  • Villa Carlotta's tenant warriors fight to save homes and history

  • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

    Frances Anderton

    architecture critic and author

  • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

    Frances Anderton

    architecture critic and author

  • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

    Avishay Artsy

    Producer, DnA: Design and Architecture

  • KCRW placeholder

    Jill Stewart

    executive director of the Coalition to Preserve LA

  • KCRW placeholder

    Grace Yoo

    Koreatown activist and attorney

  • KCRW placeholder

    Aura Vasquez

    Community organizer

    Culture
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