Exposé: Development Obstruction in Los Angeles

Homeowners groups use their influence to extract payments and concessions in Los Angeles.

1 minute read

April 15, 2017, 7:00 AM PDT

By Casey Brazeal @northandclark


Sign at Silver Lake's Sunset Junction

Eric Norris / flickr

Los Angeles is home to a host of groups advocating for homeowners, and these groups use their money and political influence to push developers to make the kind of developments the homeowners want to see, according to in-depth reporting from Hillel Aron in LA Weekly. Such deals can involve curbing the size of development, increasing parking, and exacting payments to these groups from developers, according to Aron. The details of these negotiation are not made public, so it's not possible to track exactly what concessions or dollars these groups are able to extract, or what developments they're able to stop.   

"'Essentially, [homeowner groups] shake down developers for private settlements,' says one land-use consultant, who asked not to be named to preserve the ability to negotiate with homeowner associations," Aron reports.

Tuesday, April 4, 2017 in LA Weekly

Single-family homes in a suburban neighborhood in Florida.

New Florida Law Curbs HOA Power

The legislation seeks to cut down on ‘absurd’ citations for low-level violations.

June 16, 2024 - The Guardian

Multistory apartment building under construction.

New Tennessee Law Allows No-Cost Incentives for Affordable Housing

Local governments in the Volunteer State can now offer developers incentives like increased density, lower parking requirements, and priority permitting for affordable housing projects.

June 10, 2024 - Nooga Today

Aerial view of intersection in New York City with yellow cabs and zebra crosswalks.

Planners’ Complicity in Excessive Traffic Deaths

Professor Wes Marshall’s provocatively-titled new book, "Killed by a Traffic Engineer," has stimulated fierce debates. Are his criticisms justified? Let’s examine the degree that traffic engineers contribute to avoidable traffic deaths.

June 13, 2024 - Todd Litman

Brick high-rise apartment buildings in New York City

Study: Housing Crisis is About Affordability, not Supply

New research shows that there is no overall shortage of housing units, but all U.S. metropolitan areas face a severe lack of affordable units for low-income renters.

June 18 - University of Kansas

Couple on one side of desk with banker on other side looking at paperwork.

Are Race-Based Lawsuits Affecting Community Lenders?

Shelterforce spoke with community lending leaders and experts about the current mood across the sector. What, if anything, are organizations doing to avoid becoming the next target of conservative activists?

June 18 - Shelterforce Magazine

Rendering of Glory Park in Lewisville, Texas.

New Park Promotes Community and Connectivity in Lewisville, Texas

The city of Lewisville just celebrated the opening of Glory Park/Parque la Gloria, helping to improve park access and the quality of life for residents.

June 18 - Lewisville Leader

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.