Reclaiming Urbanism After the L.A. Fires

TG+P's Senior Principal Neal Payton in Common Edge on Reclaiming Urbanism After the L.A. Fires.

While much has been reported about the tragic loss of single-family homes in the L.A. fires, both in Pacific Palisades and Altadena, there were also a significant number of commercial properties destroyed, including many small apartment buildings.

About 75% of the multifamily buildings destroyed or damaged by the fires contained 20 units or less. The general age of the buildings was 70 years old on average. Most of them were owned by individuals or local investors and might rightfully be labeled as “missing middle” housing, also known as workforce housing. This dispersed and finely grained ownership pattern poses both a challenge to the redevelopment of these fire-damaged areas, but also provides an opportunity.

The recent fires were a tragedy of historic proportions. Let’s not compound the tragedy by ignoring the opportunity to rebuild in a more pedestrian-oriented and livable manner.

Read the full article in Common Edge.