LA Metro updates development policy

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority's (L.A. Metro) board yesterday adopted an updated joint development policy to enable the agency to build more affordable housing near transit.

Among the new policies are:
• prioritizing the development of 100% income-restricted housing on unused Metro-owned land;
• using local income and rent data to help set rents for income-restricted units in order to address neighborhood concerns around gentrification and displacement; and
• limiting parking requirements to maximize the amount of space for new residential units.

L.A. Metro's Vision 2028 Strategic Planencourages the development of affordable housing near transit, agency officials said in a press release. The joint development program uses L.A. Metro-owned land — usually parcels left over from construction projects — and works to build housing and other uses on this property by partnering with private developers.