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Dear Councilwoman Park and Mayor Bass,

535 Apartments are coming to Sawtelle Japantown with NO Parking.

Many of these new buildings are incentivized by Mayor Karen Bass’s Executive Directive 1 (ED1) signature policy that fast-tracks the approval and permitting process for 100% affordable housing and emergency shelter projects that do NOT require parking.

R1, single-unit, lots are strictly excluded from ED1 eligibility, INCLUDING those on arterial thoroughfares.

Mayor Bass announced ED1 revisions on July 1, 2024 to ‘promote geographic EQUITY and DISTRIBUTE affordable housing citywide’—to protect the 70% Citywide majority R1s.

R2, duplex lots, in the interior of Sawtelle Japantown, nestled among non-arterial streets, are caught in a parking crisis created by the increasing numbers of overwhelmingly large apartment complexes.

Proposed housing on arterial streets can accommodate parking—BUT LOTS ON SMALLER STREETS CANNOT.

Owning a car in Sawtelle Japantown has now become a privilege reserved for the ‘lucky’ few.

The Sawtelle neighbors signing this letter remain committed to boosting affordable housing, but demand that:

Within the area of Sawtelle Japantown, ED1 must exclude R2 parcels on non-arterial streets and include any residential lot on an arterial street. Owning a vehicle in Sawtelle Japantown should not be limited ONLY to the “lucky few” who can afford an R1 home.

Sincerely,