L.A. City Council Introduces Plan to Turn Blighted Lots into Urban Farms

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Vacant lots can be so much more than just unused space. In Los Angeles, two city councilmen hope their proposal will turn the city’s vacant lots into thriving food gardens.

A motion introduced in October by Councilmen Felipe Fuentes and Curren Price calls for landowners to receive tax breaks for leasing vacant property for agriculture.

Recently, the state legislature of California approved the Urban Agriculture Incentive Zones Act, which authorized a tax adjustment for private property owners who lease land for commercial or noncommercial agriculture use for at least five years. This motion would do the same thing locally.

According to an article in the L.A. Times, the Los Angeles Food Policy Council estimates that 8,600 parcels in Los Angeles would be eligible.

“This policy moves Los Angeles forward on many community, health and food-access goals,” said Clare Fox, director of policy and innovation at Los Angeles Food Policy Council.

The county Board of Supervisors will need to approve the motion for the state law to be implemented in Los Angeles.