AIA Los Angeles had a busy and impactful year in 2023, championing several key issues for architects and the built environment in Los Angeles. Here are some of our notable advocacy highlights:

Housing:
+  Adaptive Reuse: AIA|LA pushed for citywide policies to streamline and incentivize adaptive reuse of existing buildings for housing, advocating for regulations that consider smaller projects and support the Hollywood Community Plan. They also hosted roundtables and discussions with city officials to find solutions.
+  Affordable Housing: AIA|LA supported AB 1657, the Affordable Housing Bond Act of 2024, which would provide much-needed funding for affordable housing development. We also advocated for streamlining the permitting process and regulations for affordable housing projects.
+  City Leader Engagement: AIA|LA held regular breakfast receptions with city leaders like Deputy Mayor Jenna Hornstock and Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath, fostering dialogue and advocating for policies that promote housing affordability, access to shelter, and equitable development.

Sustainability:
+  Embodied Carbon: AIA|LA played a crucial role in California becoming the first state to adopt mandatory measures to reduce embodied carbon in buildings, a significant step in addressing climate change. We also advocated for the “Embodied Carbon Motion” in Los Angeles, encouraging the city to consider embodied carbon in its building code and procurement practices.
+  Low Impact Development: AIA|LA supported revisions to the Low Impact Development Ordinance, advocating for a higher threshold for mandatory LID requirements to reduce unnecessary burdens on smaller projects and encourage sustainable building practices.

Policy and Partnerships:
+  2023 Advocacy Platform: AIA|LA held an open call for issue briefs from members, resulting in five briefs on critical topics presented to the Los Angeles City Council at our annual Legislative Day. This platform allowed members to directly contribute to the advocacy agenda.
+  Collaboration with LADWP: AIA|LA established a partnership with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power to explore opportunities to improve development services and urban design benefits for housing projects.

Overall, AIA Los Angeles’ advocacy efforts in 2023 focused on several key areas:
+  Increasing housing affordability and production
+  Promoting sustainable building practices
+  Engaging with city officials and policymakers
+  Empowering members to contribute to the advocacy agenda

These efforts demonstrate our commitment to shaping a more equitable, sustainable, and resilient Los Angeles through informed advocacy and collaboration.

Additional Resources:
The AIA Los Angeles Advocacy Reports

Please reach out to me at will@aialosangeles.org if you have any other questions about AIA Los Angeles’ advocacy work.  We’d love to have you involved in 2024 and look forward to hearing from you!