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Building Your Block
A newsletter course from LAist that explains the obstacles around housing development in L.A. and what you can do to make things better.
We know there’s a housing shortage in L.A., and it’s created major challenges for the region. But try to understand how to fix the problem and it gets murky, fast. We need more housing, but where can we actually build it? Why does it seem like all the new buildings going up are luxury apartments? Why isn’t there enough affordable housing? And most importantly: What can you actually do to support the housing you want to see in L.A.?
These are just some of the questions that Building Your Block will tackle in this seven-issue newsletter course.
Think of it as your starter guide to the conversations L.A. is having about housing development, plus we’ll bring you some real talk on what you can do to advocate for the housing future you want.
What can I expect?
Over seven issues, we’ll cover everything from how zoning rules determine what gets built and where, to why there’s so little affordable housing.
We’ll cap it all off with a long list of ideas you can put into action to influence housing decisions in your backyard, your city and beyond.
How often will you email me?
This newsletter has seven issues in total. Once you sign up, you’ll get one new issue a day until it’s done.
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Our analysis found unpermitted housing citations plummeted by more than two-thirds in 2020. Here’s what that meant for tenants in bootleg apartments. -
The saga of tenants at one dilapidated Mid-City housing complex is emblematic of a citywide problem that got worse during the pandemic. -
“Tiny home” villages are cropping up across L.A. But in the wealthy suburb of Arcadia, fierce backlash to such a proposal is giving city leaders pause. -
A small survey of rent relief providers finds that applicants face language, documentation and digital barriers. The state says fixes are on the way. -
A coalition of family members and community activists say they will continue the fight to keep the residents in their Boyle Heights facility. -
The Committee for Greater L.A. released a report identifying some of the “underlying problems” and are now proposing a new solution for how Los Angeles handles its homelessness crisis.
