A judge in California has halted
all home renovations for Beverly Hills residents, citing the need to address
the city's lack of affordable housing.
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| Josh Altman of "Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles" (Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images) |
Josh Altman, known for his role on
"Million Dollar Listing,"
believes that while the idea of adding more affordable housing is commendable,
it ultimately harms residents.
These remarks follow Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Curtis A. Kin's argument that the city has failed to comply with state laws mandating approval of a plan for constructing low- and middle-income housing. The ruling, issued in late December, temporarily suspends Beverly Hills' ability to issue new building permits. Consequently, residents in the 90210 area code will be unable to make improvements such as adding swimming pools, kitchens, bathrooms, or gyms to their mansions.
Altman emphasized Beverly Hills'
status as "the greatest, grandest
city on planet Earth," highlighting iconic landmarks like the Beverly
Hills Hotel and Rodeo Drive, and the luxurious lifestyle epitomized by
Rolls-Royces and fluffy poodles. He noted the city's association with some of
the finest movies ever made and its reputation for high-end amenities.
Reflecting on his recent business
trip to Dubai, Altman recounted how someone expressed admiration for Los
Angeles and Beverly Hills as a destination for spending money.
While Altman expressed no
objections to the concept of low-income housing, as suggested by the judge's
ruling to potentially build up to 3,000 units in Beverly Hills, he raised
concerns about the practical implementation. Specifically, he questioned where
these units would be located and what infrastructure would support them,
thereby incentivizing people to embrace such developments.
Beverly Hills faces a significant challenge in closing the housing gap, as it has only managed to add approximately 20 units over the past eight years.
Altman highlights the city's
biggest obstacle as the lack of available space for expansion, even humorously
suggesting the top of a Louis Vuitton store as a potential housing site.
He emphasizes the importance of
addressing location concerns before discussing incentives, questioning the
feasibility of placing low-income housing across from high-end stores like
Prada and Gucci or on top of luxury retailers like Louis Vuitton. Altman
stresses that there simply isn't enough room available in the city.
Furthermore, he calls attention to the need for infrastructure and policies that would support the construction of low-income housing. Altman proposes increasing building height allowances from the current four stories to eight stories, enabling developers to profitably build such residences. This adjustment, he argues, would make the endeavor financially viable, as the current situation does not make economic sense for developers.
Altman further pointed out that
California has consistently rejected Beverly Hills' proposed affordable housing
plan.
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| People walk past the site of the proposed Cheval Blanc Hotel from LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton, on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, California, on May 23, 2023. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP) (Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images) (PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images / Getty Images) |
He highlighted that the city has submitted its plan to the state on four separate occasions, aiming to accommodate up to 3,000 units of affordable housing, as requested. However, each time, the state has rejected these plans, deeming them unrealistic.
Altman expressed frustration over
the impact of these rejections on his clients, the residents of Beverly Hills.
He questioned why individuals who have invested substantial amounts, such as
$15 million for a home, and contribute significantly to the city's tax revenue,
are being denied basic amenities like adding a pool for their children. He sees
no logical connection between these issues.
As the city appeals the judge's
decision, Beverly Hills will continue to issue housing permits, pending further
legal proceedings.
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