Florence-Firestone, the approximately three-and-one-half-square-mile unincorporated territory in South LA, may soon get a one-mile makeover on its main street at East Florence Avenue. City officials plan to rezone the street, currently flanked by neighboring cities of Huntington Park and South Park, in order to promote economic growth and future investments along the corridor.

According to Urbanize, the existing zoning regulations allow a mixture of low-rise commercial structures, as well as retail and restaurant developments. However, these laws do not include adding new multi-family residential developments.

Map of area courtesy of LA County

With the new Florence-Firestone Community Plan, city officials consider rezoning the corridor to include taller buildings, which would potentially feature apartment or condominium complexes, ground-level retail areas, and more mixed-use buildings overall. The new condition would allow investors to build up to 150 residential units per acre. 

Although the community plan still needs to gain approval from LA County’s Board of Supervisors, many officials have high hopes that the new mixed-use development zone would attract new developers, property owners, and businesses to the neighborhood. 

AMCAL Multi-Housing, a construction company based in Agoura Hills, announced its plans earlier this year to build a five-story 116-unit affordable housing structure for seniors near Florence Library.