Council Committee Approves Small Lots Big Impact RFQ After Public Support; RFQ Language Modified
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Summary
After public testimony and proposed language changes, the committee voted 5–0 to initiate an RFQ for the Small Lots Big Impact initiative, a city‑UCLA lab effort to repurpose underused sites for housing. Supporters praised design competition outcomes and called for rapid implementation.
The Los Angeles City Housing Committee voted unanimously Wednesday to initiate a request for qualifications (RFQ) for the Small Lots Big Impact initiative, a Mayor’s Office‑backed effort that the UCLA lab helped design.
Public commenters and design leaders described the initiative as a design‑led program to convert underused sites into high‑quality, small‑lot housing. Dena Kaf, identified in the record as a UCLA design leader and third‑generation tenant, told the committee the RFQ grew from broad outreach, a design competition and an assessment of thousands of candidate sites.
Committee members read proposed amendments to the motion aimed at clarifying RFQ scope and directing the Department of Housing and the General Services Department to report within 30 days on land‑disposition processes and any site removals required by public‑agency first‑refusal rules. After revisions, Councilmember Roman led the motion; the committee recorded five yes votes and approved the RFQ to move forward.
Council discussion reiterated the need for clear RFQ clauses to protect public land disposition processes and to respond to concerns raised at neighborhood meetings. The committee’s approval allows staff to finalize RFQ language consistent with the modifications read into the record and begin solicitation of qualified organizations.
Next steps: departments will prepare RFQ documents incorporating the committee’s language and return to the committee with the RFQ timeline and site documentation.