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Today’s newsletter is presented by Marengo Morton Architects.
Good morning, San Diego.
Is it even possible to conceive of a solution that might unite all the factions in the struggle over housing development?
Single-stair reform could check quite a few boxes.
Smaller buildings. Larger units. Solutions for “funky little lots” where multi-story plans don’t pencil out.
So, what’s single stair mean? Most new buildings taller than three stories in nearly every city in the country must have a minimum of two staircases.
But a Los Angeles suburb is bucking the norm by clearing the way for buildings under six stories to have just one staircase. One of our partners, CalMatters, takes a deep dive into the issue, a favorite among what reporter Ben Christopher calls a “subculture of architects, urbanists and pro-housing advocates.”
There’s one dissenting group, though, and it has major juice – fire chiefs and firefighters unions.
What could this mean for San Diego? Well, in the short term, not much, because of a moratorium by the state Legislature. But single-stair supporters are looking for examples to bolster their argument – Christopher calls the Los Angeles-area case “an early California acid test” – and in housing-starved San Diego, developers and YIMBYs will surely be watching what happens next.
Whoopsie on our part: We provided a bad link yesterday for our upcoming free event with Zócalo Public Square. Here’s the right one, with all the details and a place to RSVP too.
Thoughts? Opinions? Share them with us at news@timesofsandiego.com.
Today’s top story
Could ‘single-stair reform’ come to San Diego? It may be the key to an apartment building boom
By Ben Christopher • CalMatters
In one California city, apartments up to six stories can now be built with a single stairwell, a surprisingly buzzy cause. But there are concerns.
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8 stories to start your day
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Today’s opinion column
Opinion: What baseball and public relations taught me about teamwork
After years chasing stories in newsrooms and later for clients in public affairs, a few simple rules still apply: know your role, play your game, and be a good teammate.
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