Advantages:
A) simple cookie cutter buildings
B) the time investment of a great architect pays off
C) 3-5 stories is easier / faster to build
D) human scale blocks of one height are buyers' / renters' most sought after typology due to the charm and sense of calm from the low scale and repetition

Shouldn't this building style be legal in every American city?

We are proud to announce the winners of the 2025 National Single Stair Architectural Design Competition!
singlestair.com

Aesthetically, our revealed preference is for human scale + consistent heights.
Price/sqft:
Famous glass 'Jenga tower': ~$3k / sqft
Simple townhouse or converted warehouse: $3700-$5k / sqft
'Background buildings' that repeat using Standard Plans are also much cheaper to build.

The Livable Communities Initiative (LCI) is a plan to build mixed-income and affordable housing that is attainable for all Angelenos – nurses, cooks, teachers, seniors, students, the undocumented, refugees.

Are aesthetics important in housing? Arguably, yes.
(1) Aesthetics can drive political support. A new study shows how aesthetics affect community support for housing -- people are more willing to embrace density when it's beautiful.

What makes a street calming? Order & variation – especially one height. Paris or Brooklyn Brownstones – it's one vernacular with variety. Mediterranean cities have variations on a theme. Walking along a coherent, human-scale block, especially under 5 stories, cortisol goes down & curiosity goes up.

A ‘Town Center’ of local shops can become the social & economic hub of a community. When it’s high quality, it invites people in – creating what Jane Jacobs described as a ‘sticky street’ – a place to shop, linger and stroll.

Let's transform our spaces into green havens, not parking lots. It's time to invest in nature, community, and sustainability. 🌿💚 #GreenSpaces #UrbanGreening #SustainableLiving #EcoFriendly #LoveWhereYouLive #NatureInTheCity #CleanEnvironment #ParkNotParking

Envisioning a more walkable Los Angeles with vibrant commercial streets, where traffic concerns take a backseat to community connection and convenience. Let’s reshape our city for a future that’s easier to navigate—on foot and beyond. #WalkableLA #TrafficSolutions #UrbanTransformation #Sustainable

Imagine an LA where every street feels like home—tree-lined, walkable, and designed for people, not just cars. 🌿🚶‍♂️🚲 #WalkableLA #PeopleFirst #SustainableCities #UrbanOasis #CarFreeFuture #BikeFriendly #GreenStreets #LivableCommunities #PedestrianParadise #SmartGrowth #LA2050

The LCI Plan is a bold, comprehensive solution for LA’s future—combining housing, mobility, and sustainability to create thriving, people-first communities. Let’s build it together! 🚲🌿🏡

#LivableLA #PeopleOverCars #SustainableCities #WalkableLA #BikeFriendly #HousingForAll #SmartGrowth #15MinuteCity

A truly walkable city isn’t just about sidewalks—it’s about vibrant neighborhoods with local shops, tree-lined streets, and fewer cars. Let’s build an LA that puts people first! 💚

#SustainableLA #LivableStreets #15MinuteCity #GreenUrbanism #TreeCanopy #CarLightLiving #BetterLA #BikeFriendly