Thursday, November 16th, 2023
Helms Design Center
8745 Washington Boulevard, Culver City

7:45 am – 9:30 am
Doors open at 7:45 for registration, breakfast and networking.
Panel from 8:30 am – 9:30 am

RSVP Required!

During Mayor Karen Bass’s inaugural week as Los Angeles’ leader, she introduced Executive Directive 1 (ED 1), a groundbreaking policy aimed at expediting the construction of affordable housing and shelters in the city. The initiative, successful in reducing the approval time for such projects from over six months to a mere 37 days, has been hailed as a pivotal move in the city’s fight against its housing crisis. It has resulted in a surge in project applications, with over 4,000 units proposed in the first six months alone. The greater approval certainty and flexible incentives have made many more 100% deed-restricted affordable projects feasible, and they have unlocked the private market: many ED 1 proposals are from for-profit developers that do not require public financing.

The policy has not been without controversy. When first enacted, certain single family zoned parcels were eligible for streamlining affordable multifamily projects. Although the directive was amended to rescind this eligibility, project applications that were submitted before the change are in a state of limbo, hotly contested between developers, housing advocates, neighborhood groups, and the City.

Nevertheless, the City is now seeking to enshrine key tenets of ED 1 into law to ensure its longevity and continued positive effect on the housing landscape of Los Angeles. Many housing advocates would like to ensure that the permanent Affordable Housing Streamlining Ordinance continues to unlock the full potential of affordable housing development, while others have flagged the need to avoid unintended consequences such as the displacement of existing tenants.

Join the Westside Urban Forum as we delve deep into the aspirations and implications of ED 1, as well as its proposed codification into the Affordable Housing Streamlining Ordinance. With homelessness and housing affordability reaching critical levels, ED 1 aims to streamline the development process, but what challenges lie ahead? Join us to understand, debate, and envision the future of Los Angeles housing.

Speakers
Scott Epstein, Policy and Research Director, Abundant Housing LA
Ben Lee, Broker, Marcus & Millichap
Kevin J. Keller, AICP, Senior Advisor, Office of Mayor Karen Bass

Moderator
Nancy Barba, Planning Commissioner, City of Culver City

Registration Fees
$50 Members
$65 Non-Members
$10 Student Members & Retired Members
$15 Student Non-Members & Retired Non-Members

Pre-registration closes on Wednesday, July 19th, at 4:00 PM. After Wednesday, July 19th, onsite registration will be available at the cost of an additional $10. No refunds or credits will be provided after this day.

Event Time
7:45 am – 9:30 am
7:45 am – Registration & Light Breakfast
8:30 am – Panel Discussion

Location
The Helms Design Center is located at the Helms Bakery campus at 8745 Washington Boulevard in Culver City.

Directions
Avoid the stress of rush hour and skip traffic! The Helms Design Center at 8745 Washington Blvd in Culver City is conveniently located a short, pleasant walk from a number of transit lines, including:

Metro Rail “E” (Expo) Line Culver City Station
(1 block west at Washington and National Blvds)

Culver City Bus “1” and “1C1” lines
(at the adjacent Washington Blvd/Helms Avenue street corner)

Parking
For those who choose to drive, parking is available in the adjacent interior parking garage at 8711 Washington Blvd (look for the red banners), or there is parking available throughout the Helms Bakery complex. Parking Map

Sponsor Provided Tickets
Thanks to the generosity of our annual Sponsors, WUF has a small number of free tickets available to members of the community. If you are not able to join as a member or purchase a ticket for this month’s panel presentation, but would like to join us, please write us at info@westsideurbanforum.com to inquire if we have any remaining sponsor provided tickets.

www.westsideurbanforum.com

Image Credit: California State Senate