Density? Downtown slump? Here's where mayoral hopefuls stand on real estate issues

"What we need to do is make sure that the city gets out of the way, Raman said. That may have been music to some developers' ears as she cited the current year-and-a-half average approval timeline for multifamily projects. If elected mayor, Raman said she'd pitch a 60-day application period for apartment projects that are compliant with zoning codes."

"Bass struck down the timetable Raman offered, saying the administration has cut red tape so you can go through much quicker than that. She suggested construction materials pricing and the general economy are other factors weighing on lagging timelines."

During a Wednesday NBC4 and Telemundo 52 debate at the Skirball Cultural Center, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and challengers Spencer Pratt and Nithya Raman discussed critical real estate issues ahead of the June 2 primary. Housing supply, building regulations, and Downtown L.A. revitalization dominated the discussion. While all three candidates agreed on boosting housing supply to address pricing, their proposed solutions diverged significantly. Raman advocated for streamlining city approval processes, proposing a 60-day application period for compliant multifamily projects to replace the current year-and-a-half timeline. Bass defended her administration's efforts to reduce red tape and cited external factors like construction material costs affecting timelines. Pratt referenced existing policies. The debate lacked consistent policy specificity despite high stakes, with 14 candidates competing and potential runoff implications.

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