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CCA Leads Business Response on Ellis Act Item
CCA has led the opposition against a motion that would extend rent control to newly constructed rental units built on the site of demolished, rent stabilized units, as this measure would discourage investment and construction of sorely-needed apartment projects. While City Council considered this item in early April, it held the item until the HCED Committee could hear an amendment introduced by Council President Eric Garcetti. The hearing on the amendment is scheduled for
May 8th
.
The amendment would give developers the option of constructing a new, rent stabilized building, or replacing the lost rent stabilized units one-for-one with units that would be affordable to households at or below 80% of the area media income, up to 20% of the newly constructed units.
In preparation for the hearing, CCA convened a group of stakeholders, including developers, land use attorneys, and apartment owners, to review the amendment and outline strategy for the hearing. CCA opposes the extension of rent control to demolitions and is lobbying to have this issue included in the Los Angeles Housing Department's year-long study on rent control.
CRA's Policy Review Committee to Discuss TFAR
For two years, CCA has been leading efforts to revise the City's Transfer of Floor Area Ratio (TFAR) ordinance to reflect changes in the Downtown market and make the ordinance relevant to developers. In April, the City approved the new ordinance with revisions proposed by CCA, Councilwoman Jan Perry's office, the Planning Department, and CRA. The new ordinance streamlines the application process and establishes a public benefit payment that is feasible for developers.
In preparation for TFAR applications, the CRA's Policy Review Committee will discuss TFAR and the CRAs role in the review process at its next meeting. This discussion will include the viability of placing additional requirements on TFAR projects.
The ordinance already requires TFAR applicants to pay a substantial public benefit fee.
CCA is strongly opposed to additional requirements, such as prevailing wage, inclusionary housing, and other mandates, as they will stifle the TFAR market, and forego the critical opportunities to build more density where it is wanted most and generate hundreds of millions of dollars for the public good.
CCA has already met with CRA staff on this critical issue and will be discussing the importance of TFAR with CRA commissioners in the coming weeks. |
CCA convened a working group of Downtown property owners, residents, businesses, and the entertainment community to discuss issues related to filming in Downtown L.A. The group is drafting special conditions that could be implemented to curtail resident concerns. The group will meet regularly until the conditions are finalized. Union Rescue Mission will hold a press conference with Cardinal Mahoney and other religious leaders on Wednesday, May 2nd to highlight the Hope Gardens project and the importance of building space for women and children outside of Skid Row. CCA has been a strong and vocal advocate of Hope Gardens from its inception and will testify in support of the project at the Regional Planning Commission on May 23rd. At Councilwoman Perry's and Council's Planning & Land Use Management Committee's request, the Planning Department and CRA have convened a working group of CCA and other Downtown stakeholders to comment on recently released industrial land use recommendations. The working group will meet for the first time on May 3rd. MTA's CEO Roger Snoble will visit a joint meeting of CCA's Housing, Land Use & Development and Transportation & Infrastructure Committees on Friday, May 4th to discuss Metro's proposed congestion mitigation fee. This fee would apply to all new development projects in the County, as a mechanism to fund transportation projects. CCA has been involved in the stakeholder group on this issue over the past six months and is concerned that the fee will adversely impact the ability to develop in the region. At this meeting, Caltrans consultants and CCA member and developer The South Group will also discuss two trip generation studies that are being undertaken for urban infill developments. Current trip generation estimates are based on surveys of suburban development with little or no pedestrian, bicycle, or transit accessibility.
STAFF CONTACT Director of Business Development, Lauren Klausen ( lklausen@ccala.org ) |
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