Community groups work on housing bill
By Jack Brownlee
Senate Bill 79 continues to be a hot topic, generating lots of controversy among local community groups in the area. SB79 upzones land within one-half mile of major transit stops, giving housing developers access to lots previously barred from development and expediting the construction process.
Intended to address California’s housing crisis, the law has created much discontent with homeowners who fear their neighborhoods will soon be beleaguered by tacky, multistory luxury housing developments.
MAPS from the March 10th city council meeting.
The Hancock Park Homeowners’ Association also joined the conversation at their most recent meeting on March 10. The meeting, held at the Marlborough School and the first in-person meeting of the HPHOA since the COVID-19 pandemic, was focused on SB79 and uniting the neighborhood not only in opposition of the bill, but in favor of the City Council’s adoption of Option One moving forward.
Currently, the Council is weighing three implementation options, all of which would delay the effects of SB79 until 2030. Option One allows for buildings up to three stories around select “Opportunity Stations.” Option Two goes further, allowing developments up to seven stories to be built around all rail stations. Option Three permits the most development, allowing for seven-story developments around both rail and bus stations. All three options are an attempt by the City Council to minimize the intrusiveness of the bill while maintaining compliance with SB79’s housing density requirements.
HPHOA President Cindy Chvatal-Keane told attendees that SB79 would affect Hancock Park properties along Wilshire Boulevard immediately, with potential effects along La Brea Avenue as well, pending a decision by the Metro board to extend the K Line north along La Brea from its current terminus at Expo/Crenshaw.
Speaking at the HPHOA meeting was City Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky, who also spoke at a Miracle Mile Residential Association meeting in January to address concerns about SB79. Yaroslavsky matched the homeowners’ enthusiastic support on Option One, saying, “It gives us the most flexibility. I think it’s really important that we have flexibility. It gives us time to develop an alternative that complies with state law but reflects neighborhood context, infrastructure capacity, and fire safety realities.
“I opposed SB79 when it was in the legislature because I believe it is a poorly constructed bill,” stated Yaroslavsky. “A bunch of key definitions remain unclear, and follow-up legislation is being discussed in Sacramento to clarify portions of the bill. Even the bill’s author has acknowledged that they may be necessary.” The author in question is State Sen. Scott Wiener from San Francico, who recently acknowledged a potential need to delay the bill.
Additionally, the Land Use Committee of the Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council met virtually to discuss the bill and hear opinions from local leaders March 2. Many neighborhoods within the council’s jurisdiction are affected by SB79, including Hancock Park, La Brea-Hancock, Sycamore Square, and Brookside. The committee voted to publicly support Option One regarding the implementation of the bill.
Category: Real Estate
