A Bloomberg podcast episode features Bill McBride and Zach Lasry discussing Los Angeles real estate and why building infrastructure such as a crosswalk can be “Kafkaesque.” The conversation is framed around a live panel discussion held at Vermont Hollywood and addresses practical challenges that affect projects on the ground.
McBride, known for his financial blogging work and for predicting the 2008 housing bubble through his Calculated Risk newsletter, and Lasry, a real estate developer associated with the Melrose Hill neighborhood, discuss how Los Angeles procedures and logistics complicate construction. The episode specifically highlights difficulties involved in sourcing construction components and the complex process required to get a crosswalk approved and built. While both guests share a focus on development realities, their perspectives differ: McBride brings market and forecasting experience, while Lasry speaks from a developer’s role.
Across the coverage, the episode also turns to the potential impact of self-driving cars. It discusses how autonomous technology could reshape parts of the city, particularly by addressing longstanding issues related to parking, though the discussion is presented as forward-looking rather than reporting a completed change.
