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For years, community & economic developers across the nation have voiced concerns about the need to provide affordable housing closer to employment centers – such as within the affluent residential enclaves affected by the Palisades fire.

The brutal fires in the Los Angeles area have laid waste to entire residential neighborhoods and dislocated thousands. I have not seen the devastation personally, but aerial photos show almost complete devastation in several areas. I send prayers up for those involved, hoping all the while that they can stay positive through the challenges that are ahead.

These horrible wildfires might provide a rare opportunity for the affected Los Angeles communities to actually integrate affordable housing concepts at the most basic level – as they begin to rebuild these neighborhoods.

As individual property owners decide how, or if, they are going to rebuild, some will choose to relocate – divesting themselves of their land. With proper foresight and planning, this can provide an opportunity for city planners and officials to introduce much needed affordable housing options for workers into areas previously dominated by middle & upper class residential development.

Certain of these parcels might accommodate affordable housing. I’m not suggesting the cities or county tackle this housing initiative themselves. There are certainly for-profit and not-for-profit groups across the US that are the experts in this arena.

I am suggesting that local leadership 1) actively identify parcels that can support affordable housing from any land that comes up for sale, 2) consider modifying zoning / land use / other permitting to more easily accommodate construction of these units, and 3) actively recruit appropriate developers to consider these possibilities.

Couldn’t hurt to try.

Mary Lilley
02/12/2025