Culver City’s idea to tackle the housing crisis: Take the stairs

Ben Christopher | CalMatters

In late September, Culver City became the first municipality in California to legalize the construction of mid-rise apartment buildings with a single staircase.

Unless you’re a member of the niche but fervent subculture of architects, urbanists and pro-housing advocates who clamor for “single stair reform,” this might not sound like big news. But supporters say it could be the key to unleashing the kind of urban apartment building boom that years of pro-development legislation in Sacramento has tried, and so far failed , to deliver.

Culver City apartments up to six stories tall can now be built around a single stairwell. Conditions apply: These buildings have to be on the small side — each floor maxes out at 4,000 square feet with no more than four units.