There are many benefits to assembling larger sites, one being that larger sites create more density than a series of smaller sites. “The advantage of larger development is that you don't have the set backs between the individual buildings,” explains Shoup. When you combine two lots and use it for one building, you get more floor area because you don't have the separation between the two buildings.” He also adds that these projects contribute to the economy. “Just think of the amount of taxes that this type of project will generate, and all of the new housing units and employment,” he says.

For Los Angeles to adopt the policy, it would be fairly simple, requiring a city council vote. Even better, the zoning could be adopted as narrowly or widely as wanted or needed. “It would have to be passed through the city council and the planning department,” says Shoup. “You could also do this at one transit stop to see how it works out. For example, we could do it near Culver City's new transit stop or somewhere along the EXPO line. Why should we spend billions of dollars on these transit lines if nothing happens near the stations?”

Los Angeles may have an easy solution to its housing crisis: graduated density zoning or creative zoning, which allows land owners to come together and assemble small lots into larger lots for development. Donald Shoup, professor in the Department of Urban Planning at the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs, proposed the idea in his most recent UCLA economic letter. As an example of the success of creative zoning, Shoup points to Jersey City. The city adopted the policy after seeing another piece of research he published on the same topic nearly eight years ago, and he is hoping the same happens in Los Angeles.

“Some of my research did get attention in Jersey City. It was a city planner that read my article eight years ago, and he slipped it into the ideas to consider in Jersey City. The city ultimately adopted it, and I think it shows really well how graduated density could work,” Shoup tells GlobeSt.com. “The city's program was much more ambitious than I even anticipated, and it immediately lead to the assembly of 13 lots, which were mainly parking lots. The tallest building in Jersey City is already on one of them, and they are building 13 more.”

As far as Shoup knows, there isn't an argument against graduated density rezoning, but many people don't realize that it is an option. “I think that it is working, and I have never heard anyone say that it wouldn't,” he says. “It is just that ideas don't sell themselves. This is something that is easy to do.”

There are many benefits to assembling larger sites, one being that larger sites create more density than a series of smaller sites. “The advantage of larger development is that you don't have the set backs between the individual buildings,” explains Shoup. When you combine two lots and use it for one building, you get more floor area because you don't have the separation between the two buildings.” He also adds that these projects contribute to the economy. “Just think of the amount of taxes that this type of project will generate, and all of the new housing units and employment,” he says.

For Los Angeles to adopt the policy, it would be fairly simple, requiring a city council vote. Even better, the zoning could be adopted as narrowly or widely as wanted or needed. “It would have to be passed through the city council and the planning department,” says Shoup. “You could also do this at one transit stop to see how it works out. For example, we could do it near Culver City's new transit stop or somewhere along the EXPO line. Why should we spend billions of dollars on these transit lines if nothing happens near the stations?”