The recent rainstorms are a reminder of how quickly Southern California’s landscape can pivot from semi-arid to verdantly lush.
With so many development projects in L.A. either cancelled or indefinitely on hold, one cannot help but wonder about the massive potential of vacant lots as temporary sites for urban agriculture. A report last April by the Los Angeles Times documented the exceedingly long wait times – up to 4 years – for a plot in local community gardens.
Why can’t the mismatch between supply and demand be partially met through the transformation of individual parcels on a case by case basis, with the city helping to negotiate agreements with willing private landowners?
This property at 5th Ave/Rose in Venice, once envisioned for a mixed-use condo building, lies fallow, bursting with green. Its conversion to a garden isn’t difficult to imagine.
This parcel at 5th/Rose Ave is one of many potential community gardens.
The upside to the landowner/developer would come primarily in the form of community goodwill (provided there was a clear understanding about the length of use and other conditions) from the creation of a new neighborhood amenity. In the case of residential projects, part of the garden could even be preserved and incorporated into the future development to meet on-site open space requirements for multifamily housing.