“I think of West Hollywood as not having necessarily a housing shortage, but an affordable housing shortage.
I was surprised to learn West Hollywood is actually the third densest incorporated municipality in California. We are denser than San Francisco. We are 70% more dense than Santa Monica. We do not have a housing shortage. We have an affordability crisis, and I think of our time, income and wealth inequality, and affordability — particularly housing — as one of the key issues to tackle. So I think this project sits at the center of that.
There are a lot of waivers and considerations we’re making for this project because it doesn’t live up to a lot of the typical requirements we have. And when I look at that, I say, okay, are we at least consistent with the goals of the city of West Hollywood? City staff says yes. I beg to differ.
From what I’ve seen, the city’s goals around creating about 4,000 new housing units by 2029 — roughly 60% of that is supposed to be affordable. Yet we’re sitting here talking about a building with 12 units, with two units being affordable housing. That’s over 80% of the units at market rate. That’s not consistent with the city of West Hollywood’s goals. That’s a pretty big failure, in my opinion, to meet the goals of creating actual affordable housing.
The commission has addressed the issues with this project. When you create 20 people now competing for parking in the neighborhood, could I overlook that if there were more affordable housing being created? Maybe. But again, when we’re creating two units of affordable housing and having 83% of the building occupied by market rate units, that’s problematic, and we need to be a little bit more critical here.
Look, I don’t have a problem with developing housing. Someone who spoke in favor of this — I agree — replacing 100-year-old buildings with newer things that meet current codes and can withstand a little bit of rain, that’s a positive. But I think we have to be honest with ourselves and ask: are we truly sticking to the priorities we’ve stated of creating affordable housing in West Hollywood?
This project is not that. This is not 60% affordable housing. I am sorry, Commissioner Solomon, but the mathematics you draw of foregoing two units to somehow achieve a net creation of two rent-stabilized units is a bit insane to me. We’re losing rent-stabilized units. We’re creating 83% market rate units in a building. We’re not living up to our principles and priorities as stated.
I would hope that this commission will be a little bit self-critical. Ask yourself: are we living up to our principles and priorities? And be a bit more critical of what’s been proposed in the city staff’s report.
Thank you.”
Kyle Brazeal
West Hollywood
Editor’s Note: The public comment delivered by Kyle Brazeal at the Thursday, February 19, West Hollywood Planning Commission meeting was in response to the proposed six-story, 12-unit development at 946-948 N. Hayworth Ave. While public sentiment ran largely against approving the project in its current form, we will publish a comment in support of the project on Sunday, February 22nd.
Although the City is doing a better job in tracking down illegal Air BnBs, the City has no idea how many units remain off the residential rental market simply because the City allowed this situation to get out of hand. Given the mandates from Sacramento, so much of the new housing is totally under parked, which effectively robs many West Hollywood residents of their necessary street parking. The Fountain “re-design” and the bike lanes proposed for Gardener may take away as many as 300 parking spaces in a City that is already on the edge of a residential parking crisis.… Read more »
Sounds like Kyle Brazeal is incredibly well-informed, well-voiced, has performed proper due diligence, & speaks with quite a BALANCED & REASONABLE understanding of many issues.
While I don’t him, in no uncertain terms, he needs to announce his candidacy & run for council assuming all other boxes are checked.
I don’t think there should be any below-market housing in any new buildings. Let the market determine the rates. Why should some lucky few benefit while the rest of us pay up? Let them live someplace they can afford.
Spoken like a truly compassionate person.
So is neighboring Beverly Hills unaffordable to those below certain income levels. So is Santa Monica, so is Malibu, Pacific Palisades, etc. So people who can’t afford to live in these cities/towns should find a place to live that they can afford, elsewhere. That’s the way it’s always been. I’d like someone to build me an affordable house in Beverly Hills or Malibu, but they won’t. So I’ve always looked for a place to live that I can afford. Yes, West Hollywood is only 1.9 square miles in size, but West Hollywood has always tried to be all things to… Read more »
It sounds like you do not like WeHo very much. Maybe YOU should move.
From the sidelines is spot on. What did they say in this post that is deniable? It’s all true & then some. And they should not more. They should stay & write comments like this on Wehoonline, & demand action by those who run the city. This city has indeed gone steadily downhill in recent years
Shall we become like the bay area? Teachers and cops must drive hours to get to work? Who is going to barback gay bars if they have to live two hours away?
Kyle Brazeal please run for City Council. Your voice and concerns reflect so many residents that have lost their voice on the developer and Unite Here backed majority council. All commissions carry the majority views of those council members. I’m really tired of our government officials bowing down to policies ,we all know, that does nothing for affordable housing. The argument that market rate is a way to drop prices after they are here for a while does not nor ever equate to a downturn in rent pricing. Rent controlled units were destroyed. I’m also tired of hearing parking isn’t… Read more »
💯 correct!
Yes, Kyle. Please run!
City officials cannot understand the difference between affordable housing and housing that is affordable. Stop giving concessions and variances to developers building $10k/month apts while throwing a couple of units to the city in order to qualify. This increase in supply DOES NOT convert to lower rents. Quite the opposite. It makes the existing (lower priced) inventory more expensive because the overall cost landscape rises. No landlord lowers his rent when a new shinny building is built next door. Did building more buildings in NYC cause rents to go down? No. If we want new young people to live in… Read more »
EXACTLY!
NIMBYism plays a significant role in exacerbating both the housing shortage and affordability crisis. Restrictive zoning laws and local opposition to new development—limits housing supply,especially in high-demand urban areas,which drives up rent prices for all,building supply cost,and reduces affordability..!
Our back yard already is one of the most dense cities in both California and the U.S. I don’t get your position…we shouldn’t have to take the burden of more constantly. There is plenty of undeveloped land, and areas in greater need of gentrification this could happen in. Ultimately the goal seems to consistently be more luxury housing with the stipulation of a random affordable housing unit that goes to some friend of the house in WeHo politics. Why do some get a unit at The Pendry while I work hard and live in a crappy apartment in WeHo?
Our back yard is urban,thats why you don’t get my position..Weho tried to be it’s own city,but that backfired,because weho,is to close to cities that are being gentrified,which makes weho a part of the LA mix..!
WeHo is still its own city. In fact it incorporated as a City to take control of its own development. If, as you claim, WeHo is LA then all these council members should be fired because there’s not independent city to run. WeHo is independent and run by corrupt council members sold to developers, with zero interest in affordable housing
WeHo is still officially it’s own city,but weho thought: Changing to its own city,was going to make it,immune to the big city life/changes,but that backfired. WeHo should have named it’s self West Hollywood Hills,then it would have been immune,to all of the development,that’s being talked about. WeHo being LA..? Well you heard the council members/ commissioners say,that the developers,don’t want to hear any type of backlash,from them,so maybe they should all be fired since weho city hall cant push back anymore..!
Kyle you speak with statistical accuracy and common sense! I expressed these same points to West Hollywood city council back in 2023 it wouldn’t meet housing numbers of 4000 units when 3 years ago it was barely 200. I was elated that the State started implementing rules of the California Department of Housing and Community Development under the directives of Governor Newsom and Attorney General Bonta that a statewide affordable housing requirement mandate based on population density had to be met. Any City that did not fulfill these annual numbers or deemed out of compliance be fined and their state… Read more »
I would love to hear more from this Wehoan. I don’t know Mr. Brazeal but he’s making great points and seems to genuinely care about the goals and values of our city.
Amazing article! Thank you for these FACTS. I only wish the City Planners (and City Council) could get the developers out of their ears so they could hear you.
AMAZING COMMENT! SPOT ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
100% we have to many VACANT units that will stay empty due to lanlords asking ridiculous rates for BOTH commercial and residential.
MANY MANY more business closures are coming. Some have already happened and not being reported on i.e. Mari Monte, Armonie and yes more. Bets on Sweetwater next to fiesta opening and closing rather quickly? Its been under construction for a year (yes – they have to pay rent over this months too).
and MANY are coming soon butt yet to formally close. Rates are just to high to sustain a profit in the city.
Speaking of business closures. CALMA on La Brea at Lexington closed within the last two months and directly north of Lexington is the Cannabis Cafe which closed in late December of 2024 !!
Med men probably soon too. Its always empty employees but no customers.
And luv poke too most likely.
But atleast we will have $30 smootbies and influencer selfie walls
This ^^
Was coming here to say exactly this. There’s a LOT of unaffordable empty apartments. Building more isn’t a solution. And throwing in a few “affordable” ones isn’t either. Because you leave out the middle, as always. Not poor enough for the designated apartments, not wealthy enough for the 4k+.
Really though, I don’t know the solution, but building more expensive empty buildings isn’t it.
Rent cap for the first, say, 5 years after a building is finished?
I don’t know.