A Guide to the Possibilities of Transit-Oriented Social Housing: Los Angeles (2021)

This project is the final portion of the Anti-Displacement Options Studio, which I had the privilege to take my third year of school in fall 2021. This installment required a collaboration with the Alliance for Community Transit (ACT-LA), with whom the studio partnered. The overall goal was to learn about the current policies and existing infrastructure for public transportation in Los Angeles County and create a proposal for alternative modes of more affordable housing with increased residential autonomy. By conducting deep research and attending community meetings, many of which were hosted by ACT-LA, I created this proposal which outlines a social housing prototype that is environmentally and socially sustainable, and replicable in cities across the country. The main project challenges came from working within existing urban policies to develop community owned land trusts, a concept with few precedents in Los Angeles. As an architecture student, it was exciting to imagine what a supportive live-work-learn community for fellow students could look like while also offering neighborhood amenities and climate responsive and resilient features. Please scroll down to view the outline I put together for use by ACT-LA for future advocacy and engagement purposes.