LA Low-Rise Design Lab

In 2023, Los Angeles City Planning initiated the Low-Rise Design Lab, a program intended to promote new infill housing opportunities that expand access to both ownership and rental options, helping Angelenos find attainable paths to housing while reducing existing barriers. For this exercise, JKA worked as a subconsultant to Dyett and Bhatia to support the Existing Conditions and Opportunities Assessment and develop Massing Studies. 

The Assessment analyzed built conditions within a range of 13 selected lot and site types found within the diversity of Los Angeles’ single-family-zoned neighborhoods. JKA then took five of these identified sites and developed a series of Massing Studies that included redevelopment under SB 9 and SB 1123, and experimented with preservation or replacement of existing structures. One of the goals of this exercise was to explore existing regulations along with opportunities for updates to the City’s Zoning Code to facilitate the construction of Low-Rise/Missing Middle housing as a strategy for meeting the City’s housing needs.

The completed exercise is outlined in the Homeowners Guide to Missing Middle Housing which can be downloaded on LA City Planning’s Website. The guide supports Los Angeles homeowners in navigating new State and local policies with guidance on development options and financial considerations.