One of Karen Bass’ first act as mayor of Los Angeles was to issue an executive directive to fast-track the city’s approval of 100% affordable housing projects and shelters, in response to L.A.’s housing and homelessness crisis.
That was December 2022. In June, Bass revised her Executive Directive 1, known as ED1, adding a clause to specify that such projects built under ED1 cannot be located on single-family streets.
That means that developers who want to build large, multi-story projects in single-family neighborhoods can’t use Bass’ ED1 fast-track process, which also exempts developers from conducting certain environmental studies or holding public hearings.
Single-family streets have long been protected from developers who want to build large apartment buildings. But to the shock and dismay of some San Fernando Valley residents, such projects might still end up on their quiet streets.
During the first six months after the mayor’s executive directive went into effect, and before Bass updated it to prohibit ED1 projects on single-family streets, the city received several applications from developers seeking to build large, multi-family developments in such neighborhoods.
Eight applications are in the pipeline — all proposed in the San Fernando Valley, according to the city’s planning department.
They include five projects in City Councilmember Bob Blumenfield’s Council District 3 in the West Valley — two in Canoga Park and three in Reseda; two projects in the East Valley — in Pacoima and Sun Valley; and one in Sherman Oaks.
The proposed projects range from 78 to 202 units, with heights of 39 to 80 feet, according to the planning department.
Residents in Sherman Oaks were flabbergasted to learn that a seven-story, 200-unit building could go up on Ethel Avenue, towering over their single-family homes. An upset group of residents showed up to protest at a recent unrelated ribbon-cutting ceremony that their councilmember, Nithya…
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