To the editor: I reside in Pasadena however fortunately wasn’t in an evacuation zone. Nonetheless, since final week I’ve been getting requests to lease and even purchase my home, from each mates and strangers. Persons are determined for housing. (“Fire victims compete to find new homes as real estate market rages in Pacific Palisades, Altadena,” Jan. 11)
In the meantime, homes stand vacant on my road. One newly constructed home on my block was bought by somebody who lives out of the country and hasn’t set foot there. One other is a home a neighbor inherited and is holding on to for monetary causes with out dwelling in it or renting it out. He stops by as soon as a month to chop again the weeds.
A number of extra within the space are owned by Caltrans, a part of a purchase order from when the 710 Freeway was presupposed to undergo right here. They’ve sat vacant for years.
I consider we have to construct extra inexpensive housing, however what about all the prevailing housing that’s unused? What coverage can we put into place to discourage house owners of second houses from letting their properties sit vacant? How can we transfer the state alongside to get these 710 Freeway homes inhabited?
Rebecca Tuynman, Pasadena
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To the editor: Los Angeles ought to take the unfinished Oceanwide Plaza skyscrapers in downtown L.A. off the market. Associate with the county to complete the undertaking and create a neighborhood land belief.
Pitkin County, Colo., set a profitable precedent. Within the Eighties, lack of inexpensive housing for raise operators, academics and first responders threatened the Aspen resorts. Pitkin County started constructing, and now greater than 3,200 individuals reside in these inexpensive houses.
Finishing Oceanwide Plaza ought to take much less time than constructing 1000’s of particular person houses and residences. It’s a uncommon alternative to create an inclusive, mixed-income district with completely inexpensive condos and residences. Market-rate penthouses and bigger models can offset undertaking prices.
Not everybody displaced by hearth will wish to reside downtown. However L.A. wants extra housing, and lots of will discover the views and placement close to transit fairly fascinating. An area-wide shuffle would release models in different neighborhoods.
Ginger Wireman, Richland, Wash.
