Part of the Solution: Yes to ADU

Description

OVERVIEW

The homeless population in Los Angeles County has been increasing at an alarming rate over the last five years. According to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, steadily rising housing costs and stagnant incomes are the underlying cause, with the highest economic stress falling on renters.

In 2016, in response to this humanitarian crisis, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors launched the Homeless Initiative, a comprehensive plan that includes strategies to increase affordable housing through the development of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU’s.) Towards that goal, LA County is updating its ADU ordinance to address new opportunities for secondary units in single family lots for family use or rental.

PROJECT GOALS

As partners in the Homeless Initiative’s Second Dwelling Units Pilot Program, the Los Angeles County Arts Commission Civic Art Program, in collaboration with the Department of Regional Planning, the Community Development Corporation, and Chief Executive Office, is helping to promote the development of ADU’s.

Civic Art invites its creative community to participate in this design competition to reimagine freestanding ADU’s in Los Angeles County. Part of the Solution: YES to ADU encourages architects and designers to serve as creative strategists in service to the Homeless Initiative, promoting affordable housing with inspiring, tangible examples of freestanding ADU’s that the public can visualize in their yards and neighborhoods.

Winning entries will be announced at an awards event and exhibition in March 2018. Corresponding workshops and interviews facilitated by community partners will allow residents to engage directly with architects, builders, artists, and planners around topics investigated in the design competition: design and construction of ADU’s; potential job creation around the new building typology; how the ADU might affect families, neighborhoods and civic space.