Most of LA housing was built in relationship to the picturesque and expansive landscape that it inhabits – spreading wide across the hills and valleys. It would seem that building sparsely would have resulted in a scenario where both urban and natural environments could co-exist peacefully and harmoniously. Alas, that did not turn out to be the case and nature is making its displeasure known – a case in point is the recent multi-year drought. Now is the time to explore other urban models and strategies, ones that would lead to mitigating the potentially devastating effects of climate change, so it was very exciting to come across an intriguing study conducted by the Bay area thinktank Next 10; this study focuses on the effects of greater density on neighborhoods where “compact housing in already urbanized land near transit, jobs, and services” is added.
This research suggests that living in these “infill areas” would lessen the effects of climate change: by living closer to the workplace, school and public transit, the average Angeleno’s drive would be shortened by 18 miles per weekday, meaning an annual reduction of 1.79 million metric tons in greenhouse gas emissions, which, according to our friends at CurbedLA, equals to taking 378,000 cars off the road and helps the state meet its emissions-reduction goals. Take a look at the Next 10 study here or catch the analysis over at ConstructionDive.
Our takeaway from the study is that small lot homes are definitely one of the ways of the future, and we are proud to be working with new communities like TheERB and TheGlenLA that espouse an eco-conscious small footprint approach to building. Interest lists for both developments are growing fast, which is exciting! You can sign up at the links above and, as usual, if you have any other real estate questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch.
