Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass says her signature housing shortcut, Executive Directive 1, is now backing nearly 47,000 affordable homes in the city’s development pipeline. Standing alongside developers on Thursday, she put a spotlight on a sprawling senior housing proposal in Woodland Hills that alone is billed as delivering more than 3,000 income-restricted units. City officials and developers cast the moment as proof that fast-tracking 100% affordable projects can meaningfully chip away at L.A.’s affordability crisis.
In a post on X, Bass wrote that "with nearly 47,000 affordable housing units now in the pipeline under ED1, we’re moving with urgency to tackle the affordability crisis and accelerate housing production citywide," she said on X. At the same event, developers rolled out plans for "Viva L.A. at Warner Center," a four-tower, 100% affordable senior complex they say will bring about 3,192 units to 6400 Canoga Avenue, according to a PRWeb press release from Wellpointe.
ED1’s Fast-Track Rules Become City Law
ED1 started as an executive directive that sped up review for 100% affordable projects. It later graduated into permanent law as the Affordable Housing Streamlining Ordinance in late 2025, a shift supporters say made approvals more predictable and easier to finance. Reporting from CoStar notes that the ordinance requires accelerated pre-construction review and faster permit timelines for projects reserved for households earning less than 80% of the area median income.
Pipeline Numbers Get a Fresh Bump
The mayor’s office had previously pegged the ED1 pipeline at more than 42,000 units, with roughly 6,000 already under construction, a tally published in a mayoral press release in mid-June. This week’s jump to "nearly 47,000" appears to reflect new filings and a handful of big additions under ED1, including Viva L.A., according to Mayor Karen Bass' office.
Neighbors and Advocates Push Back
While pro-housing advocates have cheered ED1’s speed, critics warn that moving faster can also mean moving out existing residents. Some ED1 projects would replace lower-cost apartments, raising alarms about displacement. Tenant groups and neighborhood activists have pushed for stronger relocation protections as the program scales up, as the Los Angeles Times reported.
What Comes Next For Viva L.A. And ED1
Wellpointe says Viva L.A. is vested and has been submitted under ED1, making it eligible for the city’s streamlined review. Company leaders have already presented renderings and project details at an unveiling earlier this month, the developer says. The city’s ED1 guidance and Planning Department review will dictate how quickly the project moves from paper to construction, and neighborhood groups are preparing to push for clear relocation and tenant safeguards as applications advance, according to Los Angeles City Planning and the developer's release.
For now, the mayor’s nearly 47,000-unit ED1 tally and the sheer scale of Viva L.A. are the markers everyone is watching to see whether faster approvals actually result in new homes for low-income and older Angelenos. Planners, developers and advocates will be tracking each step in the months ahead.
