I was asked by ULI-LA to organize a panel discussion on micro-housing in small infill lots. The project we will be discussing features 227 units on a 15,000-square-foot site, yielding 659 dwelling units per acre (du/ac). I led the design team on five micro-housing projects at Steinberg Hart, in collaboration with Housing Diversity Corporation and STS Construction Services. These projects which were originally designed to address the missing middle housing needs. But they became the perfect candidates for Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority's master lease program to house homeless individuals. This relationship redefines the concept of private/public partnerships and has the potential to scale the production of affordable housing. Below is the expanded session proposal for like-minded housing advocates that are interested.
Session description:
A decade ago, in 2014, a UCLA study found that Los Angeles was the most unaffordable rental market in the nation. As the affordability gap widened, micro housing became the buzzword to address the housing affordability crisis. Politicians and housing advocates promoted micro housing, pushing policies and publishing white papers. It was touted as one of the main solutions to add much-needed housing supply to solve the affordability issue.
In 2016, Measure JJJ was passed by voters, which included the Transit Oriented Communities (TOC) program. This program made it possible for ground-up high-density micro housing projects through its incentives and elimination of parking requirements. Taking advantage of this new zoning tool, Housing Diversity Corporation and STS Construction and Development pioneered micro housing in Los Angeles, with three completed projects to date: Premiere Hollywood, Vida DTLA, and Liv DTLA. Against the grain of Los Angeles's car culture, they bet on building attainable housing with zero parking in neighborhoods with many amenities, alternative transportation options, and 90+ walk scores.
In March 2024, the second micro housing project, Vida DTLA, had its grand opening. This 147-unit project on a 9,000-square-foot site was master leased by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) as part of a pilot program to acquire permanent supportive housing units. The master lease program allows homeless individuals to be housed immediately at a much lower cost compared to subsidized ground-up affordable housing. If the pilot program is successful, the master lease strategy can be a catalyst for privately funded affordable housing, costing less than half the price of subsidized affordable housing. Liv DTLA, a 227-unit project is slated to be master leased by LAHSA to provide much needed permanent supportive housing.
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