Blog: Weho Landlords Vs. Tenants and Rehabbing Old Apartments

As I go door to door and talk to voters one of the main problems I see is the condition of the older apartment buildings. These are often the ones that don't have elevators.

I wonder how much longer these building will last? In the current situation our housing stock is literally rotting. Will it take a big earthquake to get these buildings their much needed repair or demolition? Will they still be around in 10 years? 20? 50? 100?

But, some of the older ones are in good condition. Well lit. New paint. Good smelling. I commend the managers and owners of those buildings.

I propose a solution to this situation that could be a win-win for all parties involved.

It is an idea that came to me right after I walked into an absolutely disgusting smell that made me shudder in one of these building.

I'd be very interested to hear your feedback on this and tell me if you think it has a chance to solve this problem.

Let's take the most innovative and successful way of funding projects, crowd sourcing, and apply it towards this problem with the City of West Hollywood acting as the organizer and partial contributor towards each project that cleans up and rehabs these blighted buildings.

This could create a situation where the worst apartments get fixed up by people who care in the community. The landowner might want to contribute, the community could contribute, and the renter should as well.

A renter, or landlord, or both, would place pictures of the disgust and post them on a website. It could also be done in person at City Hall. The program and web page would be approved by the City of West Hollywood, and would act very similar to Kickstarter.

I see the debate would be what level contribution the City would pitch in towards the projects (5%, 15%, 25% + ?).

Remember the funding only kicks in if the project meets the funding goal by the deadline. This could even be a feel good reality show on Weho TV.

The renters are motivated to get off the couch, or at least pick up the phone, or move their fingers on a keyboard to get contributions to get their place rehabbed.

In another way it could lead to motivated landowners not wanting to be put on the site.

This is just one idea on how to solve a very big crisis, the deterioration of Weho housing stock. 

This is the type of innovative thinking you will get if I am elected, but I need your vote on March 5th to make it happen.