A 1940s Northridge home on Parthenia Street could be replaced by 16 townhomes under new state lot-splitting law SB 1123, which fast-tracks development without public hearings.
A 1940s single-family home in Northridge could soon be replaced by 16 new townhomes, according to development applications filed with the Los Angeles Department of City Planning.
The project targets a large corner lot at , where the street intersects with Shoshone Avenue. City records list as the applicant behind the proposal.
Two separate applications were filed under Senate Bill 1123, with each requesting approval for eight homes. Combined, the plans would deliver 16 new residences on the more than 50,000-square-foot property.
SB 1123 took effect last July and expanded California's Starter Home Revitalization Act. The law allows developers to split a single vacant parcel into up to 10 smaller lots and build "by right" starter homes. Local agencies must fast-track these projects ministerially, which means they bypass the lengthy public hearings process that typically slows down development.
"SB 1123, which took effect last July, expanded the state's Starter Home Revitalization Act, allowing developers to split a single vacant parcel into up to 10 smaller lots and build 'by right' starter homes." — The Real Deal
According to plans filed with the city, the townhomes would be designed by architect Valentine Janev. Key details from the site plan include:
Mandelbaum is not new to San Fernando Valley development. He previously applied to replace a single-family home in Panorama City at 14421 West Nordhoff Street with nine small-lot homes. Each structure in that project would rise 24 feet and offer floor plans ranging from 2,199 to 2,229 square feet, according to Urbanize Los Angeles.
The Northridge proposal comes as Los Angeles races to meet state-mandated housing goals. Developers across the city are increasingly turning to single-family lots as opportunities for denser housing under new state laws.
Lot subdivision has also become a flashpoint in the Los Angeles mayoral race. Last year, reality TV personality Spencer Pratt claimed that proposed legislation could allow the county to seize burned lots and remove zoning restrictions. Pratt also criticized SB 9, a 2021 law that allows homeowners in most single-family zones to split their lot and build two units. Governor Gavin Newsom later waived enforcement of SB 9 in fire-prone areas following criticism from Pratt and Mayor Karen Bass.
No community opposition or support for the Parthenia Street project has been publicly reported as of Tuesday.
Residents in the area can track the project through the Los Angeles Department of City Planning's public records portal.
This article was generated with AI assistance.