Sam Alcorn
@samalcorn.bsky.social
Housing abundance. Urbanism. Zoning abolitionist. Accessibility Compliance expert. YIMBY. Located in Tovaangar. #OverturnEuclid
My new T-shirt should arrive in the mail in the next few days. You can buy one too!
It says, “Zoning” in big text, then under that it says, “keeping Americans segregated and car-dependent for a century”
All cotton.
Many colors.
Full range of sizes.
voiceofdissentwear.etsy.com/listing/4419...
It says, “Zoning” in big text, then under that it says, “keeping Americans segregated and car-dependent for a century”
All cotton.
Many colors.
Full range of sizes.
voiceofdissentwear.etsy.com/listing/4419...
January 16, 2026 at 4:48 AM
My new T-shirt should arrive in the mail in the next few days. You can buy one too!
It says, “Zoning” in big text, then under that it says, “keeping Americans segregated and car-dependent for a century”
All cotton.
Many colors.
Full range of sizes.
voiceofdissentwear.etsy.com/listing/4419...
It says, “Zoning” in big text, then under that it says, “keeping Americans segregated and car-dependent for a century”
All cotton.
Many colors.
Full range of sizes.
voiceofdissentwear.etsy.com/listing/4419...
January 16, 2026 at 4:47 AM
My new T-shirt should arrive in the mail in the next few days. You can buy one too!
It says, “Zoning” in big text, then under that it says, “keeping Americans segregated and car-dependent for a century”
All cotton.
Many colors.
Full range of sizes.
voiceofdissentwear.etsy.com/listing/4419...
It says, “Zoning” in big text, then under that it says, “keeping Americans segregated and car-dependent for a century”
All cotton.
Many colors.
Full range of sizes.
voiceofdissentwear.etsy.com/listing/4419...
This is absolutely, brain-meltingly bonkers.
January 16, 2026 at 4:35 AM
This is absolutely, brain-meltingly bonkers.
Something that sticks with me from architecture school is that a human body at rest puts off about 100W of heat. So in a crowded space, body heat can really warm things up.
January 15, 2026 at 9:13 PM
Something that sticks with me from architecture school is that a human body at rest puts off about 100W of heat. So in a crowded space, body heat can really warm things up.
Of course, AB 507 from last year makes adaptive reuse possible statewide on July 1. I bet this bill was based on the success of DTLA’s ARO.
calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202...
calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202...
AB 507: Adaptive reuse: streamlining: incentives. | Digital Democracy
Digital Democracy overview of bill AB 507: Adaptive reuse: streamlining: incentives.
calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org
January 15, 2026 at 9:01 PM
Of course, AB 507 from last year makes adaptive reuse possible statewide on July 1. I bet this bill was based on the success of DTLA’s ARO.
calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202...
calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202...
I regularly hope that Euclid will be overturned, and the whole idea of zoning gets abandoned. We’d be so much better off as a society.
#OverturnEuclid
#OverturnEuclid
January 15, 2026 at 8:50 PM
I regularly hope that Euclid will be overturned, and the whole idea of zoning gets abandoned. We’d be so much better off as a society.
#OverturnEuclid
#OverturnEuclid
It makes sense for smaller projects, to reduce staff hours and delay for project applicants, for a single plan checker to be reviewing zoning-code as well as building-code compliance.
January 15, 2026 at 8:45 PM
It makes sense for smaller projects, to reduce staff hours and delay for project applicants, for a single plan checker to be reviewing zoning-code as well as building-code compliance.
In other municipalities, the planning department is fully responsible for enforcement of the zoning code. In any case, planning departments often have no input on the building code.
January 15, 2026 at 8:31 PM
In other municipalities, the planning department is fully responsible for enforcement of the zoning code. In any case, planning departments often have no input on the building code.
LA City Planning and LADBS were set to be merged a while ago, but it never happened. Even if it had, I think your take would stand there too, at least when it comes to building codes. LA’s weird in that while the Planning Department is mostly in charge of the Zoning Code, LADBS enforces it sometimes
January 15, 2026 at 8:31 PM
LA City Planning and LADBS were set to be merged a while ago, but it never happened. Even if it had, I think your take would stand there too, at least when it comes to building codes. LA’s weird in that while the Planning Department is mostly in charge of the Zoning Code, LADBS enforces it sometimes
Is it SoLA Impact? I know they’ve been big on volumetric modular apartment buildings. Personally, I think panelized modular needs to be explored more, but there is a place for volumetric for some things.
January 15, 2026 at 8:15 PM
Is it SoLA Impact? I know they’ve been big on volumetric modular apartment buildings. Personally, I think panelized modular needs to be explored more, but there is a place for volumetric for some things.
It seems like for almost every regulation in almost every US place, cost and common sense never come into the discussion.
January 15, 2026 at 8:09 PM
It seems like for almost every regulation in almost every US place, cost and common sense never come into the discussion.
The new zoning, implemented so far just in Downtown (and Boyle Heights? I know that was the 2nd Community Plan area to implement it, but has that happened yet?) eliminates [Q], [T], and [D] conditions, but those limitations are just folded into the 99-character zoning string now, IIRC.
January 13, 2026 at 4:01 AM
The new zoning, implemented so far just in Downtown (and Boyle Heights? I know that was the 2nd Community Plan area to implement it, but has that happened yet?) eliminates [Q], [T], and [D] conditions, but those limitations are just folded into the 99-character zoning string now, IIRC.
Also, don’t forget the tightly spaced cross-bores required between twin tunnels for evacuation:
bsky.app/profile/bens...
bsky.app/profile/bens...
Yes but the cross-passages are the budget-breaking item (extremely tight spacing at 800 ft)
January 12, 2026 at 6:15 PM
Also, don’t forget the tightly spaced cross-bores required between twin tunnels for evacuation:
bsky.app/profile/bens...
bsky.app/profile/bens...
Small things add up. And open the door to bigger things.
January 12, 2026 at 5:21 PM
Small things add up. And open the door to bigger things.
I think it simplifies the ventilation.
January 12, 2026 at 5:18 PM
I think it simplifies the ventilation.
Let’s not forget BYD trying to sell LA Metro on a monorail. It’s just like the Simpsons episode. Thankfully, Metro staff has recommended automated heavy rail, which is the right choice.
January 12, 2026 at 5:16 PM
Let’s not forget BYD trying to sell LA Metro on a monorail. It’s just like the Simpsons episode. Thankfully, Metro staff has recommended automated heavy rail, which is the right choice.
Reposted by Sam Alcorn
This here is a very good and useful phrase to describe something I see way too much of.
Policy-based evidence making.
January 12, 2026 at 4:03 AM
This here is a very good and useful phrase to describe something I see way too much of.
It would make some sense if it were mandatory for all grocers to accept SNAP payments, but it’s not: it’s an opt-in thing for retailers.
This will lead to many fewer establishments accepting it. Corner stores and gas stations will probably stop accepting EBT cards for payment.
This will lead to many fewer establishments accepting it. Corner stores and gas stations will probably stop accepting EBT cards for payment.
January 11, 2026 at 7:37 PM
It would make some sense if it were mandatory for all grocers to accept SNAP payments, but it’s not: it’s an opt-in thing for retailers.
This will lead to many fewer establishments accepting it. Corner stores and gas stations will probably stop accepting EBT cards for payment.
This will lead to many fewer establishments accepting it. Corner stores and gas stations will probably stop accepting EBT cards for payment.
A T-shirt that says, “Show me your nexus study.”
All cotton.
Many colors available.
Many sizes available.
voiceofdissentwear.etsy.com/listing/4439...
All cotton.
Many colors available.
Many sizes available.
voiceofdissentwear.etsy.com/listing/4439...
January 11, 2026 at 7:30 PM
A T-shirt that says, “Show me your nexus study.”
All cotton.
Many colors available.
Many sizes available.
voiceofdissentwear.etsy.com/listing/4439...
All cotton.
Many colors available.
Many sizes available.
voiceofdissentwear.etsy.com/listing/4439...
The most frustrating thing is that this has been known for as long as I’ve been alive:
openyls.law.yale.edu/entities/pub...
openyls.law.yale.edu/entities/pub...
The Irony of Inclusionary Zoning
Between 1973 and 1980, the average sale price of a single-family house in the five-county Los Angeles area rose from $40,700 to $115,000, or by 183%. This increase not only was twice the rate of incre...
openyls.law.yale.edu
January 11, 2026 at 7:25 PM
The most frustrating thing is that this has been known for as long as I’ve been alive:
openyls.law.yale.edu/entities/pub...
openyls.law.yale.edu/entities/pub...
Reposted by Sam Alcorn
I told our city staff that our IZ was exactly like doctors bleeding out patients in the 1800s, thinking they were helping cure disease. “We’ll cure our housing shortfall by making housing more expensive” makes just as much sense as opening a vein to cure a fever.
January 11, 2026 at 6:45 PM
I told our city staff that our IZ was exactly like doctors bleeding out patients in the 1800s, thinking they were helping cure disease. “We’ll cure our housing shortfall by making housing more expensive” makes just as much sense as opening a vein to cure a fever.
The fourth level might be a mezzanine in the front with a double-height space in back? My ex-wife used to live in a place like that in LA. That was only 3 stories, but could have counted as 2+mezzanine.
January 11, 2026 at 5:12 PM
The fourth level might be a mezzanine in the front with a double-height space in back? My ex-wife used to live in a place like that in LA. That was only 3 stories, but could have counted as 2+mezzanine.
As long as it’s a Mercator projection, so Greenland looks ‘UGE!
January 11, 2026 at 4:30 PM
As long as it’s a Mercator projection, so Greenland looks ‘UGE!
They do say “or equivalent,” and note that state and local amendments are part of it. So if your AHJ uses the 2024 IBC and IRC, does that meet that section?
January 11, 2026 at 4:26 PM
They do say “or equivalent,” and note that state and local amendments are part of it. So if your AHJ uses the 2024 IBC and IRC, does that meet that section?