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Design, Bitches
Looking to Build a Granny Flat in Your Backyard? Meet the Firms and Designs Pre-Approved in LA
Sarah Favot
Favot is an award-winning journalist and adjunct instructor at USC's Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. She previously was an investigative and data reporter at national education news site The 74 and local news site LA School Report. She's also worked at the Los Angeles Daily News. She was a Livingston Award finalist in 2011 and holds a Master's degree in journalism from Boston University and BA from the University of Windsor in Ontario, Canada.
Adding a backyard home in Los Angeles is now nearly as easy as buying a barbecue.
Homeowners who for years have wanted to build a granny flat in their backyard, but dreaded the red tape, can now choose from 20 pre-designed homes that the city has already approved for use.
The shift, made official last week, will speed up a weeks-long process and bring more badly needed units to an overpriced market. It also has the potential to elevate the 14 startups and firms building the next generation of homes.
The designs for the stand-alone residences range from a 200-square-foot studio to a 1,200-square foot, two-story, two-bedroom unit. And many of the homes are filled with design flourishes, reflecting the diverse architecture of the city, from a house in the silhouette of a flower to one with a spiral outdoor staircase leading to the roof.
It's no surprise. The program was spearheaded by Christopher Hawthorne, a former architecture critic at the Los Angeles Times and now the city's chief design officer.
The firms are primarily local and startup architecture and design firms, while others are well-known with a history of building granny flats, also know as accessory dwelling units, or ADUs.
The standard plans avoid the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety's typical four-to six-week review process and can allow approvals to be completed in as quickly as one day.
Some aspects of the plans can be modified to fit a homeowner's preferences. Eight other designs are pending approval.
Mayor Eric Garcetti believes by adding more such units, the city can diversify its housing supply and tackle the housing crisis. Recent state legislation made it easier to build the small homes on the lot of single-family residences. Since then, ADUs have made up nearly a quarter of Los Angeles' newly permitted housing units.
Because construction costs are relatively low for the granny flats – the pre-approved homes start at $144,000 and can go beyond $300,000 – the housing is generally more affordable. The median home price in L.A. County in January was $690,000.
Here's a quick look at the designs approved so far:
Abodu
Abodu
Abodu, based in Redwood City in the Bay Area, exclusively designs backyard homes. In 2019, it worked with the city of San Jose on a program similar to the one Los Angeles is undertaking.
In October, it closed a seed funding round of $3.5 million led by Initialized Capital.
It has been approved for a one-story 340-square-foot studio, a one-story one-bedroom at 500 square feet, and a one-story, 610-square-foot two-bedroom.
The pricing for the studio is $189,900, while the one-bedroom costs $199,900 and the two-bedroom is $259,900.
Amunátegui Valdés Architects
Led by Cristobal Amunátegui and Alejandro Valdés, the firm was founded in 2011 and has offices in Los Angeles and Santiago, Chile. Amunátegui is an assistant professor at the Department of Architecture and Urban Design at UCLA.
The firm designs work in various scales and mediums, including buildings, furniture and exhibitions.
Its one-story, two-bedroom with a covered roof deck 934-square-foot unit is pending approval from the city.
Connect Homes
Connect Homes has a 100,000-square foot factory in San Bernardino and an architecture studio in Downtown L.A.
It specializes in glass and steel homes and has completed 80 homes in California. Its designs have an aesthetic of mid-century modern California residential architecture.
It has two one-bedroom models pre-approved by the city, one is 460 square feet, which costs $144,500 with a total average project cost of $205,000. The other is 640 square feet, which costs $195,200 with a total project cost of $280,000.
Design, Bitches
The Los Angeles-based architectural firm founded in 2010 describes itself as having a "bold and irreverent vision." Its projects include urban infill ground-up offices to single-family homes, adaptive re-use of derelict commercial buildings and renovations of historic landmarks.
Its pre-approved design, named "Midnight Room," is a guest house/ studio. Its bedroom can be left open for a loft feel or enclosed as a separate room. The design is a one-story, one-bedroom at 454 square feet.
Escher GuneWardena Architecture
Founded in Los Angeles in 1996, Escher GuneWardena Architecture has received international recognition and has collaborated with contemporary artists, worked on historical preservation projects and more.
The company has been approved for two different one-story, one- or two-bedroom units, one at 532 square feet with an estimated cost of $200,000 and another at 784 square feet with an estimated cost of $300,000. The firm noted the costs depend on site conditions and do not include soft costs. Those could add 10% to 12% to the total construction costs.
First Office
First Office is an architecture firm based in Downtown Los Angeles. Its approved ADUs will be built using prefabricated structural insulated panels, which allow for expedited construction schedules and high environmental ratings.
The interior finishes include concrete floors, stainless steel counters and an occasional element of conduit.
There are five options:
- A one-story studio, 309 to 589 square feet
- A one-story one-bedroom, 534 to 794 square feet
- And a one-story two-bedroom, 1,200 square feet
Fung + Blatt Architects
Fung + Blatt Architects is a Los Angeles-based firm founded in 1990.
The city has approved its 795-square-foot, one-story, one-bedroom unit with a roof deck. It estimates the construction cost to be $240,000 to $300,000, excluding landscape, site work and the solar array. Homeowners can also expect other additional costs.
Taalman Architecture/ IT House Inc.
The design team behind "IT House" is Los Angeles-based studio Taalman Architecture. Over the past 15 years, IT House has built more than 20 homes throughout California and the U.S.
The IT House ADU standard plans include the tower, bar, box, cube, pod and court.
The city has approved four options, including:
- A two-story including mechanical room, 660 square feet
- A two-story including mechanical room, 430 square feet
- A one-story studio, 200 square feet
- A one-story including mechanical room, 700 square feet
The firm also has another two projects pending approval: a 360-square-foot one-story studio and a one-story, three-bedroom at 1,149 square feet.
LA Más
LA Más is a nonprofit based in Northeast Los Angeles that designs and builds initiatives promoting neighborhood resilience and elevating the agency of working-class communities of color. Homeowners who are considering their design must commit to renting to Section 8 tenants.
The city has approved two of LA Más' designs: a one-story, one-bedroom, 528 square feet unit and a one-story, two-bedroom, 768 square feet unit. The firm has another design for a one-story studio pending approval. That design would be the first 3D-printed ADU design in the city's program.
Jennifer Bonner/MALL
Massachusetts-based Jennifer Bonner/MALL designed a "Lean-to ADU" project, reinterpreting the stucco box and exaggerated false front, both Los Angeles architectural mainstays.
The design has been approved for a 525-square-foot one-story, one-bedroom unit with a 125-square-foot roof deck.
sekou cooke STUDIO
New York-based sekou cooke STUDIO is the sole Black-owned architectural firm on the project.
"The twisted forms of this ADU recalls the spin and scratch of a DJ's records" from the early 90s, the firm said.
Its design, still pending approval, is for a 1,200-square-foot, two bedroom and two bathroom can be adapted to a smaller one-bedroom unit or to include an additional half bath.
SO-IL
New York-based SO-IL was founded in 2008. It has completed projects in Leon, Seoul, Lisbon and Brooklyn.
Its one-story, one-bedroom 693-square-foot unit is pending approval. It is estimated the construction cost will be between $200,000 and $250,000.
WELCOME PROJECTS
Los Angeles-based Welcome Projects has worked on projects ranging from buildings, houses and interiors to handbags, games and toys.
Its ADU is nicknamed The Breadbox "for its curved topped walls and slight resemblance to that vintage counter accessory."
It has been approved for a one-story, one-bedroom 560-square-foot unit.
wHY Architecture
Founded in 2004, wHY is based in Los Angeles and New York City. It has taken on a landmark affordable housing and historic renovation initiative in Watts.
Its one-story, one- or two-bedroom 480 to 800-square-foot unit is pending approval.
Firms that want to participate in the program can learn more here . Angelenos interested in building a standard ADU plan can learn more the approved projects here.
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Sarah Favot
Favot is an award-winning journalist and adjunct instructor at USC's Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. She previously was an investigative and data reporter at national education news site The 74 and local news site LA School Report. She's also worked at the Los Angeles Daily News. She was a Livingston Award finalist in 2011 and holds a Master's degree in journalism from Boston University and BA from the University of Windsor in Ontario, Canada.
Here's How To Get a Digital License Plate In California
03:49 PM | October 14, 2022
Photo by Clayton Cardinalli on Unsplash
Thanks to a new bill passed on October 5, California drivers now have the choice to chuck their traditional metal license plates and replace them with digital ones.
The plates are referred to as “Rplate” and were developed by Sacramento-based Reviver. A news release on Reviver’s website that accompanied the bill’s passage states that there are “two device options enabling vehicle owners to connect their vehicle with a suite of services including in-app registration renewal, visual personalization, vehicle location services and security features such as easily reporting a vehicle as stolen.”
Reviver Auto Current and Future CapabilitiesFrom Youtube
There are wired (connected to and powered by a vehicle’s electrical system) and battery-powered options, and drivers can choose to pay for their plates monthly or annually. Four-year agreements for battery-powered plates begin at $19.95 a month or $215.40 yearly. Commercial vehicles will pay $275.40 each year for wired plates. A two-year agreement for wired plates costs $24.95 per month. Drivers can choose to install their plates, but on its website, Reviver offers professional installation for $150.
A pilot digital plate program was launched in 2018, and according to the Los Angeles Times, there were 175,000 participants. The new bill ensures all 27 million California drivers can elect to get a digital plate of their own.
California is the third state after Arizona and Michigan to offer digital plates to all drivers, while Texas currently only provides the digital option for commercial vehicles. In July 2022, Deseret News reported that Colorado might also offer the option. They have several advantages over the classic metal plates as well—as the L.A. Times notes, digital plates will streamline registration renewals and reduce time spent at the DMV. They also have light and dark modes, according to Reviver’s website. Thanks to an accompanying app, they act as additional vehicle security, alerting drivers to unexpected vehicle movements and providing a method to report stolen vehicles.
As part of the new digital plate program, Reviver touts its products’ connectivity, stating that in addition to Bluetooth capabilities, digital plates have “national 5G network connectivity and stability.” But don’t worry—the same plates purportedly protect owner privacy with cloud support and encrypted software updates.
5 Reasons to avoid the digital license plate | Ride TechFrom Youtube
After the Rplate pilot program was announced four years ago, some raised questions about just how good an idea digital plates might be. Reviver and others who support switching to digital emphasize personalization, efficient DMV operations and connectivity. However, a 2018 post published by Sophos’s Naked Security blog pointed out that “the plates could be as susceptible to hacking as other wireless and IoT technologies,” noting that everyday “objects – things like kettles, TVs, and baby monitors – are getting connected to the internet with elementary security flaws still in place.”
To that end, a May 2018 syndicated New York Times news service article about digital plates quoted the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), which warned that such a device could be a “‘honeypot of data,’ recording the drivers’ trips to the grocery store, or to a protest, or to an abortion clinic.”
For now, Rplates are another option in addition to old-fashioned metal, and many are likely to opt out due to cost alone. If you decide to go the digital route, however, it helps if you know what you could be getting yourself into.
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Steve Huff
Steve Huff is an Editor and Reporter at dot.LA. Steve was previously managing editor for The Metaverse Post and before that deputy digital editor for Maxim magazine. He has written for Inside Hook, Observer and New York Mag. Steve is the author of two official tie-ins books for AMC’s hit “Breaking Bad” prequel, “Better Call Saul.” He’s also a classically-trained tenor and has performed with opera companies and orchestras all over the Eastern U.S. He lives in the greater Boston metro area with his wife, educator Dr. Dana Huff.
steve@dot.la
tech-week
LA Tech Week 2024 kicks off on Monday, October 14, with a packed schedule of events spread across Los Angeles. This opening day offers founders, investors, creatives, and tech enthusiasts endless opportunities to connect, learn, and collaborate. From early morning fitness sessions to afternoon workshops and evening socials, Monday’s diverse programming sets the stage for an impactful week. Below is the schedule organized by location, so you can easily find the events that match your goals and availability.
BEVERLY HILLS
7:00 AM
- Lumos House in LA :See Details Here
Andrew Yeung, Blindspot
8:00 AM
- Scrappy Hour : See Details Here
Scrappy
9:00 AM
- Techwalk : See Details Here
TechWalk, Qapita
12:00 PM
- Founders & Funders Luncheon : See Details Here
VCPE GROUPS, Entrepreneur.VC
2:00 PM
- Future of Farming: AI and Indigenous Collaboration for a Sustainable Food System : See Details Here
Celebration Nation Inc
7:00 PM
- Real Estate Investments & Technology : See Details Here
LightDAO, Mission Matters
CENTURY CITY
6:00 PM
- KOSME-LAVA Demo Day (Invite Only)
Los Angeles Venture Association
CULVER CITY
9:00 AM
- Investing in the Next Creative Wave : See Details Here
Amazon Web Services (AWS)
- Intersections LA - Coworking at LA Tech Week Day 1 : See Details Here
Intersections LA
1:00 PM
- Networking for Underrepresented Founders - Optimize your networking savviness, and have fun along the way : See Details Here
AWS Startups
2:30 PM
- The Culver Cup: GenAI Film Competition : See Details Here
AWS
3:00 PM
- Family Office & Investors Summit : See Details Here
Family Offices Investors Summit, Sandbox, Soulbound, KIKI, Babylon Voice, CryptoHQ Fund
DTLA
7:00 AM
- Tech Runs (Invite Only)
Crosscourt
EL SEGUNDO
6:00 PM
- Tech & the DoD: Do's and don'ts :See Details Here
Stonegardens Advisory, Demand Signal Ventures
HOLLYWOOD
2:00 PM
- Brand Positioning + Content Strategy Workshop (Invite Only)
Alpha Wolves Media
6:00 PM
- VCFamilia Annual Awards Reception :See Details Here
LaFamilia Foundation (VCFamilia), Pivotal Ventures
INGLEWOOD
6:30 PM
- UCLA Anderson Elevating Voices: A Pitch Competition & Networking Opportunity :See Details Here
Westwood
LONG BEACH
11:30 AM
- Long Beach Hardtech: Local Talent Meets CEOs :See Details Here
Starburst Aerospace, Ampaire, Auriga Space, Long Beach Accelerator, Rebel Space, Sunset Ventures, Emerging LA
MALIBU
5:00 PM
- Women Who Raise :See Details Here
Sunstone, Pepperdine University
6:00 PM
- LA Venture Community Dinner :See Details Here
Wilshire Lane Capital
MAR VISTA
3:30 PM
- 3D Animation Happy Hour :See Details Here
Uthana
MARINA DEL REY
3:00 PM
- AI Titans Panel :See Details Here
USC, Information Sciences Institute
MID CITY
10:00 AM
- Womxn's Wellness: Morning Retreat :See Details Here
The Growth Club
PASADENA
1:00 PM
- Space Tour at NASA :See Details Here
Emerging LA, Sunset Ventures
5:00 PM
- LA GenAI Meetup :See Details Here
AI LA
PLAYA DEL REY
8:00 AM
- Cerebral Beach Morning Kickoff :See Details Here
AI LA
SANTA MONICA
7:00 AM
- Pitch and Run LA: Run Club for Startup Community :See Details Here
PitchandRunLA, Global Venture Network
8:00 AM
- Human Health Social Ride :See Details Here
Fortify Ventures
8:30 AM
- Ganas Ventures Coffee :See Details Here
Ganas Ventures
9:00 AM
- LA Tech Breakfast Club :See Details Here
Tech Breakfast Club
- Live a16z Podcast Recording :See Details Here
A16z
10:00 AM
- Beach Walk :See Details Here
Clutch Talent
- Santa Monica Innovation Hub: Technology Street Fair on Ocean Avenue :See Details Here
City of Santa Monica, StartupStarter, Inc., Downtown Santa Monica, Inc. (DTSM)
- Sip & Scale (Invite Only)
AMP Beauty
10:30 AM
- AI Communities - The Future of Insights :See Details Here
Socialtrait Inc
11:00 AM
- The Founder Journey :See Details Here
Mucker Capital, LeadrPro, JP Morgan, K&L Gates
12:00 PM
- Global Venture Network Summit :See Details Here
Global Venture Network, GS1US, The FutureList, FusionAuth
1:00 PM
- Founder Lunch :See Details Here
Cherry Hill Advisory, Crescent
1:30 PM
- Battle of the Engineering Teams :See Details Here
Charlie Financial, Aprime Technology
4:00 PM
- Family Office & LP Happy Hour on the Rooftop :See Details Here
Nathan Family Office
- LA AI Builders Demos & Happy Hour :See Details Here
Artium AI, Freeplay, Silicon Valley Bank
- Lightspeed, SNR Capital, Foley Roundtable :See Details Here
Sidebar Summit, Redwood Collective
4:30 PM
- Scale 10x: Strategies for Exponential Growth :See Details Here
HIRECLOUT
5:00 PM
- Social & Happy Hour :See Details Here
Los Angeles Fun Events
- The Future of Tech: Web3 x AI :See Details Here
Orbis86
6:00 PM
- Building in Space :See Details Here
ImaginingForward
- Consumer AI Founders & Investors Soirée :See Details Here
PowerYou AI
- Female Creators and Investors Dinner :See Details Here
Musa Capital
- Founder Friends :See Details Here
Hustle Fund
- Funders Dinner VCPE :See Details Here
VCPE Groups, Entrepreneur Ventures
- Meta Monday: Fashionverse :See Details Here
Hive
- Official LA Tech Week Kickoff :See Details Here
A16z
- Snark Tank/Money is Funny Tech Pitch Roast Comedy Show :See Details Here
Tech Pitch Roast Comedy LLC
- The Human To Human Experience :See Details Here
Human To Human
7:00 PM
- Verve Dinner :See Details Here
Verve, M13, Stifel, WSGR
- Wisdom Meets Innovation - The Over-40 Founder's Advantage :See Details Here
Frances Mendez, Ryan Edwards
VENICE
7:00 AM
- AM Run & Workout :See Details Here
Bankless Ventures
- Best Morning Ever :See Details Here
Powerful Stuff, Drybaby
8:00 AM
- Startup Banking Breakfast :See Details Here
J.P. Morgan Startup Banking Team - LA
9:00 AM
- Google AI Salon: The Future of Entertainment & Creativity :See Details Here
10:15 AM
- Rise & Empower: Yoga & CPG Startup Showcase :See Details Here
Open Venture Capital, Empowered Yoga Venice, Oya Femtech Apparel, Wellness Growth Ventures
12:00 PM
- High Growth Consumer Brands Fireside Chat :See Details Here
J.P. Morgan Innovation Economy Team - LA
- Innovation Shaping Tomorrow's Investments :See Details Here
Crypto Mondays, Continuum, Female Funders Club
4:00 PM
- Sunset Soirée for Climate Tech Founders & Funders :See Details Here
J.P. Morgan, WICIF, MCJ
6:00 PM
- Product & Design Happy Hour :See Details Here
Product Manager Association of Los Angeles
6:30 PM
- The Future of Entertainment :See Details Here
HITMKR Inc., The Bushido Group, Mission Matters
VIRTUAL
8:30 AM
- Jobseeker Strategy & LinkedIn Profile Tips :See Details Here
Clutch Talent
WESTLAKE VILLAGE
11:00 AM
- Tech Week Recharge at Hub 101 :See Details Here
Hub 101, Steven Dorfman Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, California Lutheran University
WESTSIDE
3:00 PM
- CultureHouse :See Details Here
MaC Venture Capital
- Speaker Panel: Leveling the playing field - Removing the barriers to entry for developers :See Details Here
Elemental Computing Inc.
Each session provides unique opportunities to gain insights, network, and explore various fields of tech innovation. For updates or more event information, visit theofficial Tech Week calendar. Enjoy the start of LA Tech Week 2024!Read moreShow less
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