Crypto News: The case for more granny flats in fire-hit LA

Some evacuees of the the Palisades and Eaton fires in Los Angeles have found temporary housing in accessory dwelling units. Also known as granny flats, these backyard homes proliferated across the state beginning in 2016, when California began easing its notoriously strict zoning rules to boost its affordable housing stock.

As Governor Gavin Newsom seeks to fast-track construction in wildfire-affected areas amid the loss of thousands of properties, ADUs — and other forms of "missing middle" housing — are likely to be an important part of the rebuilding effort. And how LA handles their rise will be watched by other major metropolitan areas struggling with painful housing shortages, writes Laura Curtis. Today on CityLab: LA's Backyard-Home Boom Offers Wildfire-Hit Residents New Option

— Linda Poon

More on CityLab

NYC to San Francisco Face Havoc From Trump's Federal Aid Pause
Trump's federal funding pause threatens more than $1 trillion that flows to states, cities and other local governments, putting everything from transit infrastructure to housing projects at risk.

LA Fires Revive Trauma for Homeowners Battling Insurance Claims
People who've lost their homes have faced yearslong battles to recover payouts as insurers deal with a surge in claims arising from more destructive wildfires.

Trump's Birthright Citizenship Order Rattles H-1B Workers Expecting a Baby
The president's order would also extend to those in the US as tourists, students or on temporary work visas.

What we're reading

Google to change map names for Gulf of Mexico and Denali when US updates them based on Trump order (Associated Press)
Bans, fees, taxes. Can anything stop overtourism? (New York Times)
NFL requires controversial agreement for cities hosting the Super Bowl (Axios)
'Everyone thought it would cause gridlock': the highway that Seoul turned into a stream (Guardian)
A new life for empty offices: Growing kale and cucumbers (BBC)