Residential development to rise at 438 W. Carson Street – Urbanize LA

Project Report: Housing Development at 438 W. Carson Street and its Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals

1.0 Project Summary

The City of Carson Planning Commission has approved a new housing development project by Maupin Development, located at 438 W. Carson Street. The project focuses on redeveloping an underutilized site, comprising a surface parking lot and vacant land, into a residential building. This initiative directly supports several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by increasing housing supply, incorporating affordable units, and promoting sustainable land use.

2.0 Alignment with SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

The development is fundamentally aligned with SDG 11, which aims to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.

• Target 11.1: Access to Adequate and Affordable Housing: The project will construct a four-story building containing 51 residential units. Critically, five of these dwellings will be deed-restricted as affordable housing, directly contributing to the supply of safe and affordable homes for lower-income households.
• Target 11.3: Inclusive and Sustainable Urbanization: By redeveloping a vacant lot and surface parking, the project exemplifies sustainable infill development. This approach enhances land-use efficiency, curbs urban sprawl, and revitalizes an underutilized urban space.

3.0 Contribution to Broader Social and Economic Goals

Beyond its primary impact on urban infrastructure, the project addresses other significant SDGs related to social equity and well-being.

1. SDG 1 (No Poverty) & SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities): The provision of dedicated affordable housing units helps alleviate the financial burden on low-income families, contributing to poverty reduction. Integrating these units within a market-rate development fosters a mixed-income community, thereby addressing housing inequality.
2. SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being): The project design incorporates amenities that promote resident well-being. These facilities include:
   • A fitness center
   • A resident lounge
   • A rooftop deck

   These communal spaces are designed to enhance physical health and encourage social interaction among residents.

4.0 Site Plan and Architectural Details

The project’s design and layout have been planned to integrate effectively with the surrounding area.

• Building Design: The structure is a contemporary, four-story low-rise building clad in stucco. It features an L-shaped footprint to accommodate an adjacent commercial property.
• Unit Composition: The 51 dwellings will consist of one and two-bedroom configurations.
• Parking: Vehicle parking will be situated at the rear of the property, minimizing its visual impact on Carson Street and prioritizing a pedestrian-friendly frontage.
• Location Context: The site is strategically located near the Veterans Village of Carson, another affordable housing development, reinforcing the area’s commitment to providing diverse housing solutions.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • This is the most directly relevant SDG. The article focuses on a new housing development within the city of Carson. This project contributes to urban development by redeveloping a vacant site and a surface parking lot into residential units, which is a core theme of making cities more sustainable and inclusive.
2. SDG 1: No Poverty
   • The article mentions that five of the new homes will be “deed-restricted as affordable housing.” Access to affordable housing is a critical component in poverty reduction strategies, as high housing costs are a major financial burden for low-income individuals and families. By providing affordable options, the project helps alleviate this pressure.
3. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
   • By mandating a portion of the development as affordable housing, the project addresses economic inequality. It promotes social inclusion by ensuring that people with lower incomes have access to new, quality housing within the community, rather than being priced out of the area.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 11.1: Ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services.
   • The article directly addresses this target by describing the construction of 51 new housing units. More specifically, the provision that “five of the proposed homes would be deed-restricted as affordable housing” is a direct action towards ensuring access to affordable housing for a segment of the population.
2. Target 1.4: By 2030, ensure that all men and women, in particular the poor and the vulnerable, have equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to basic services…
   • Affordable housing is considered a basic service. The project contributes to this target by increasing the stock of affordable housing, thereby improving access for vulnerable or low-income populations in Carson.
3. Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of… economic or other status.
   • The inclusion of affordable units within a market-rate development is a strategy for promoting economic inclusion. It prevents the creation of exclusively high-income housing areas and allows for a more economically diverse community, which is a key aspect of this target.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Number of new housing units built.
   • The article explicitly states that the project will create “51 one and two-bedroom dwellings.” This is a direct quantitative indicator of the increase in housing supply.
2. Number of new affordable housing units built.
   • The article specifies that “five of the proposed homes would be deed-restricted as affordable housing.” This is a precise indicator for measuring progress towards providing affordable housing (Target 11.1).
3. Proportion of new housing units designated as affordable.
   • Based on the numbers provided, an indicator can be calculated: 5 affordable units out of 51 total units, which is approximately 9.8%. This percentage serves as an indicator of the project’s commitment to housing affordability and inclusion (Targets 10.2 and 11.1).

4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table

Source: la.urbanize.city