Soto-Martínez will conditionally support the plan moving forward provided that changes are made to promote equity and affordable housing construction 

Currently, tenant protections in the plan leave out the communities of East Hollywood, which are predominantly working-class communities of color

Ahead of Monday’s special session of the Planning & Land Use Management (PLUM) Committee to discuss the proposed Hollywood Community Plan, Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martínez, who represents Hollywood, announced that he would only support the plan with further amendments incorporated to promote equity for working people and increased affordable housing. His support is also conditional on the assurance that the Planning Department is committed to continuing the work of updating the zoning for Hollywood and East Hollywood. This will allow for further implementation of anti-displacement and sustainability measures, along with increased affordable housing construction.

“The uneven growth and increasing inequality across Hollywood in the 35 years since the last Hollywood Community Plan update has shown the desperate need for more equitable density,” said Soto-Martínez. “We have the opportunity here to set the roadmap for a more inclusive, sustainable Hollywood with the affordable housing that we need. But to do that, we need to continue working toward that goal after this plan is adopted. We cannot wait another 35 years for the chance to take bolder action that will benefit all of our residents.”

Councilmember Soto-Martínez, along with Councilmembers Nithya Raman and Katy Young Yaroslavsky, who also represent portions of the Greater Hollywood Area, are requesting the following amendments before it is adopted:

• Additional tenant protections, including relocation assistance for renters forced out of their homes and a provision requiring no net loss of affordable housing units for new developments.
• Affordable housing covenants extended from 55 years to 99 years.
• Additional affordability requirements in some areas to promote equity and consistency across the plan’s area.

“We look forward to working with our partners on the Council and the Planning Department to finally see this long overdue Plan through to adoption,” said Councilmember Nithya Raman. “Adding the proposed recommendations around additional tenant protections and affordability will ensure community stability while also managing future projected growth.”

Additionally, Soto-Martínez’s support for the proposed community plan is contingent on the ability to make changes to the plan after its adoption:

• Increased affordable housing and density
  • Incorporate East Hollywood, which isn’t covered by the current plan at all.
  • Add affordable housing requirements for new developments.
  • Rezone to build housing more easily on public land.
  • Add adaptive reuse provisions to convert underutilized office and commercial buildings into housing.
• Anti-displacement measures
  • Expand anti-displacement provisions to all areas of the plan instead of only certain neighborhoods.
  • Define and promote social housing models.
  • Prevent building demolitions before replacement projects are approved.
• Sustainability and safety
  • Reduce the car-centric uses in the plan.
  • Reform parking requirements.
  • Remove street-widening requirements.
  • Study earthquake resilience to improve retrofitting.
  • Additional stainability measures, including an environmental justice program.

“Right now, renter protections incorporated in the plan only apply to communities west of the 101, completely leaving out the predominantly working-class communities of color east of the 101,” said Soto-Martínez. “Our focus is reversing the decades-long disinvestment and neglect in the marginalized communities of our city, and we’re looking forward to continuing this work.”

Photo by De’Andre Bush on Unsplash