AIA|LA & LACP Roundtable Discussion: Citywide Housing Incentive Program

AIA|LA & LACP Roundtable Discussion: Citywide Housing Incentive Program

Los Angeles City Planning is hosting a roundtable with AIA|LA and members of the ULI Housing Council to provide an overview of and solicit feedback on the recently released draft Citywide Housing Incentive Program (CHIP) Ordinance–a key component of Los Angeles’ Housing Element Rezoning Program. Released in March 2024, the CHIP ordinance aims to expand opportunities for housing on major corridors in higher opportunity areas and near transit citywide. Before hosting a public hearing in the summer, Los Angeles City Planning seeks feedback to inform future revisions to the draft ordinance.

Key Questions:

• The CHIP Ordinance proposes by-right LADBS review for an expanded pool of project types. Are there other ways that City Planning can support the streamlined review of mixed-income and 100% affordable housing projects?
• Are there corridors that are not captured by the Mixed Income Incentive Program where you would like to see more housing development and why?
• Projects in Opportunity Corridor Transition Incentive Areas are required to comply with certain design standards. Do you foresee any issues with the feasibility of implementing these standards?
• Are there additional clarifications that can be made to the tailored menus of incentives to better support mixed-income and 100% affordable housing projects?

SPEAKERS:

Blair Smith – Senior City Planner, Los Angeles City Planning

Thea Trindle – City Planner, Los Angeles City Planning

Wajiha Ibrahim – City Planner, Los Angeles City Planning

TO PREPARE:  In advance of the roundtable discussion, please review the draft ordinances (see links below) and prepare your questions, comments, and recommendations to help improve the effectiveness and feasibility of these proposed ordinances.

Housing Element Rezoning Program

The Citywide Housing Incentive Program Ordinance
Draft Ordinance (March 2024)
Fact Sheet (March 2024)

Citywide Adaptive Reuse Ordinance
Citywide Adaptive Reuse Draft Ordinance (March 2024)
Current Zoning Code, Ch. 1
New Zoning Code, Ch. 1A
Fact Sheet (March 2024)

Housing Elements Sites Ordinance
Draft Ordinance (March 2024)
Fact Sheet (March 2024)

Resident Protections Ordinance
Draft Ordinance (March 2024)
Fact Sheet (March 2024)

WHEN: Wednesday, May 15th at 4 pm

WHERE:  This will be an in-person meeting at Los Angeles City Hall (200 N. Spring Street, Room #501 – Los Angeles, CA 90012)

• Transit & Parking details will be sent along with a confirmation of your RSVP.

SPEAKERS & BIOS:

Blair Smith – Senior City Planner, Los Angeles City Planning

Blair Smith is a Senior City Planner in the Housing Policy Unit, overseeing the Housing Element Rezoning Program. In her current role, Blair evaluates existing housing needs and barriers, facilitates community input,  and develops recommendations and programs to address Los Angeles’s housing needs.

Blair previously has worked on the Housing Element 2021-2029, the streamlining of affordable housing processes citywide,  creating new zoning tools for re:codela, developing housing incentives for the Hollywood Community Plan update, and protecting historic resources in the Office of Historic Resources.

Blair studied the growth and structure of cities at Bryn Mawr College.  Throughout her career, Blair has worked to build a more equitable LA by developing tools to improve design and integrate affordable housing into neighborhoods throughout the City.

Thea Trindle – City Planner, Los Angeles City Planning

Thea Trindle is a City Planner for Los Angeles City Planning’s Housing Policy team supporting the implementation of Los Angeles’ Housing Element Rezoning Program. Prior to joining Los Angeles City Planning, Thea served as Planning and Development Manager for Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s Office of Economic Development  where she served as the Mayor’s liaison to City Planning and the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS). Thea completed her B.A. in Urban Studies at Loyola Marymount University and her M.S. in Regional and Urban Planning at the London School of Economics. If she is not at Los Angeles City Hall you can usually find her exploring the hiking trails of the nearby San Gabriel mountains, at the beach, or exploring her beloved DTLA neighborhood.

Wajiha Ibrahim – City Planner, Los Angeles City Planning

Wajiha Ibrahim, a City Planner for the Housing Unit of the Department of City Planning focuses her work on advancing housing access and its equitable distribution in Los Angeles. With a background in Engineering, Urban Planning and Design from the University of Michigan, Wajiha has developed both international and local level city plans and policies. Wajiha also co-authored the 2021-2029 Housing Element Update, an eight-year policy framework to house Los Angeles residents. She is currently working on the Department’s Citywide Rezoning Program, an ordinance aimed to increase housing production and meet Los Angeles’s housing needs.

Questions?  Please contact Will Wright for more information.