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Dear LA City PLUM and Councilwoman Park,
I am a Brentwood resident, a community rich in green, open space and tree canopy. However, as an ultra high fire hazard zone area, we are virtually fully exempt from the Citywide Housing Incentives Program (CHIP). Despite our exemption, we in Brentwood are concerned about other Angelenos, especially those living and working in the Sawtelle Japantown area. We are aware that the broad based exemptions of single unit lots (R1s) have resulted in
very aggressive incentives on non-R1 lots, placing
extraordinary market pressure on duplex neighborhoods (R2s and RDs), such as in Sawtelle.
Sawtelle Japantown is the only City-named ethnic community on the Westside. It is a jewel, both to its immediate residents, surrounding communities (such as ourselves), and even to those abroad, as tourists from all over the world make it a destination. In particular, the historic core, the area between Sawtelle Boulevard and Stoner Avenue is NOT exempt from CHIP, as it is zoned R2 and RD. There, CHIP would have a devastatingly disproportionate impact as even Sawtelle Boulevard itself would be affected.
Yet, Sawtelle Boulevard is NOT just another street. It is the lifeblood of the community. It keeps alive the cultural heritage of the area. It is the heart and soul of a long-standing minority small business community. It is the duty of all of us to preserve it. While we are glad that the City has put forth a specific Option 5 that is FOR Sawtelle, we NEED YOU, our elected officials, to ACT ON IT! Adopting two options would allow for a politically viable path to preserve and save the Sawtelle Historic Core.
CHIP Option 5 would exempt R2s and RDs from CHIP saving the Sawtelle Historic Core! However, the result would reduce the overall proportion of new homes in high opportunity areas. In order for LA City Council to provide for this protection without jeopardizing the work done in favor of equitable affordable housing, an offset is required to compensate for the reduction. CHIP Option 4 would incentivize multifamily homes on single unit lots located on transportation corridors. These two Options together would provide more equal protection for ALL interior neighborhoods, both single and duplex unit lots, result in more consistency along larger corridors, and maintain the proportion of the planned-for increase in homes in higher resource areas.
We urge you to ADOPT CHIP WITH Options 4 and 5.
Although these Options have virtually no net impact on the City\’s housing goals, they would preserve the history of the only designated ethnic community on the Westside and give the same chance to other ethnic enclaves that have yet to receive a designated status. Prevent an all or nothing plan by advocating for a more balanced and equitable approach to house L.A. while preserving the multicultural history of a city as diverse and unique as ours. Adopt Options 4 and 5 and make them the law in Los Angeles!
Sincerely,
