Concerns about out-of-character construction, much of it oversized, has led the Los Angeles City Council to prohibit construction of additional 'McMansions.' In some areas, all new development will be held up for two years.
Last month, the Los Angeles City Council moved to restrict one kind of development loathed by urbanists and preservationists alike: McMansions. The Neighborhood Conservation Interim Control Ordinance, in effect for the next two years, sets limits on the size of new single-family homes in 15 neighborhoods. Five additional districts will endure a temporary ban on all building and demolition permits.
This isn't the first time Los Angeles rebuked the McMansion: "In 2008, the City Council passed the so-called 'mansionization ordinance,' which was intended to control the size of new homes in Los Angeles. But loopholes in the ordinance allowed larger homes to rise, prompting passage of Wednesday’s temporary law."
The ordinance will stem new McMansion construction—to the displeasure of some—at least until city planners release a new set of zoning codes in about 18 months.
FULL STORY: No more 'McMansions’ in Los Angeles for two years, says council
Los Angeles Reveals New Citywide Adaptive Reuse Proposal
An adaptive reuse ordinance limited to the city’s downtown core helped create roughly 12,000 units of new housing.
L.A.'s Historic CBS Campus Will Undergo Billion-Dollar Expansion
The Television City revamp will more than double the currently available space and include a multi-modal mobility hub, pedestrian improvements, and a "robust" transportation demand management program.
Adaptive Reuse More Popular Than Ever, Study Says
The past decade saw more old commercial buildings transformed into residential buildings than any decade previous.
National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions
Thousands of essential park workers were laid off this week, just before the busy spring break season.
Retro-silient?: America’s First “Eco-burb,” The Woodlands Turns 50
A master-planned community north of Houston offers lessons on green infrastructure and resilient design, but falls short of its founder’s lofty affordability and walkability goals.
Delivering for America Plan Will Downgrade Mail Service in at Least 49.5 Percent of Zip Codes
Republican and Democrat lawmakers criticize the plan for its disproportionate negative impact on rural communities.
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Balancing Bombs and Butterflies: How the National Guard Protects a Rare Species
The National Guard at Fort Indiantown Gap uses GIS technology and land management strategies to balance military training with conservation efforts, ensuring the survival of the rare eastern regal fritillary butterfly.
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.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
Planetizen
Planetizen
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service