The mayor cited the Wilcox, a supportive housing project for seniors in east Hollywood, as an example of expedited housing that is being created throughout the city. (photo by Edwin Folven)

Mayor Karen Bass, and Los Angeles City Councilmembers Hugo Soto-Martínez, 13th District, and Nithya Raman, 4th District, highlighted the more than 7,000 units of affordable housing on Sept. 18 that have been accelerated by Bass’ first executive directive.

“Over the past nine months, we’ve expedited more than 7,000 units of affordable housing in projects all across our city, including the one we’re at today,” Bass said. “With 46,000 people living on our streets, there is no way that we can let up. This is what urgency looks like. Approval processes that used to take six months are taking 47 days. Other projects that weren’t going to be ready until 2025 are going to come online next year. And let me be clear, when we save time, we save money and we save lives.”

Bass and the council members made the announcement at the Wilcox, a permanent supportive housing project at 4904-4920 Santa Monica Blvd. in east Hollywood for older Angelenos. The project was developed by Wakeland Housing and Development Corporation and was cited as an example of a location that opened sooner than originally planned because officials cut through red tape and bureaucracy.

“This project is showing the city of Los Angeles how we’re going to turn this housing and homelessness crisis around. Executive Directive 1 is an example of the kind of policy that we know works,” Soto-Martínez said. “We know what works, it’s leading with compassion and building the type of housing that unhoused people need while bringing the community in with a collaborative effort. We could not be happier to open this here in District 13, and let’s build many, many, many more.”

Signed by Bass on Dec. 16, 2022, Executive Directive 1 accelerates and lowers the cost of affordable housing projects. Applications for 95 affordable housing projects have been filed with the Los Angeles Department of City Planning since the directive was signed, and 38 project cases have been completed. Bass announced on Sept. 14 the Department of City Planning released a draft ordinance to make Executive Directive 1 permanent. The Department of City Planning will conduct a public hearing on the draft ordinance on Oct. 11, and it will then be considered by the Planning Commission, City Council and mayor in November and December.