Transforming Real Estate Development Using APIs
Automating property evaluation for TOC-eligible developments with instant zoning analysis.
The Challenge
Los Angeles faces severe housing affordability challenges, serving as home to 13 million residents with historically rising property prices. Rapid urbanization and gentrification have displaced communities while developers have traditionally focused on upscale properties, leaving affordable housing needs unmet.
With zoning reforms creating Transit Oriented Communities (TOC) classifications, a new opportunity emerged for developers to transform single-family residences (R1 zoned lots) into multi-unit buildings (R2, R3, R4 zoning). However, understanding complex zoning laws and calculating density requirements for TOC-eligible properties created major barriers:
- •Developers needed expensive consultations with architects to determine if a property qualified for TOC development
- •Manual research required lengthy visits to city offices to review zoning regulations and density calculations
- •The time and cost of pre-acquisition analysis prevented developers from evaluating multiple properties efficiently
- •Uncertainty about development potential made it difficult to determine fair property values and ROI
Our Solution
Centauri Systems (Stratus Meridian) developed an innovative API-based solution that automated the entire property evaluation process. The system queries Los Angeles city's public datasets and performs comprehensive zoning and TOC analysis—requiring only two simple inputs from the developer:
Simple, Powerful Input
The application needs just two parameters to generate a complete development analysis:
- 1.Street number
- 2.Street name
That's it. No complex forms, no manual research, no expert consultations required for initial screening.
Behind the scenes, the system performs complex operations that previously required human expertise:
Public Dataset Integration
Automated queries to Los Angeles city's public data sources retrieve current zoning classifications, TOC tier designations, and density regulations in real-time.
Zoning Analysis Engine
Complex algorithms determine current zoning (R1, R2, R3, R4), TOC eligibility, and applicable density bonuses based on proximity to transit.
Development Potential Calculator
Instantly calculates maximum buildable units, required setbacks, height limits, and parking requirements for the property.
Decision Support
Provides developers with actionable intelligence to evaluate acquisition opportunities before engaging architects or submitting permits.
The API Architecture
Built on Google Cloud Platform using Node.js microservices with Apigee as the API management layer, the solution demonstrates how modern API architecture can solve complex real-world problems:
- •Apigee Gateway: Handles authentication, rate limiting, and request routing while providing analytics on usage patterns
- •Node.js Services: Process property lookups, perform zoning calculations, and orchestrate data from multiple city data sources
- •GCP Infrastructure: Provides scalable, reliable hosting with automatic failover and load balancing
Technologies Used
Results & Business Impact
The API-based solution transformed the property evaluation process for Los Angeles developers and builders, dramatically accelerating the pace of affordable housing development identification. What previously required days of research and thousands of dollars in professional consultations now takes seconds with just a street address.
Key outcomes achieved:
- ✓Instant Development Analysis: Property evaluation that previously took days now completes in seconds, enabling developers to evaluate dozens of properties per day
- ✓Eliminated Pre-Acquisition Costs: Removed the need for expensive architect consultations and city office visits during initial property screening
- ✓Accelerated Decision-Making: Developers can identify high-potential properties and make acquisition decisions with confidence before engaging professional services
- ✓Strategic City Consultation: Armed with automated analysis, developers can have more productive conversations with city officials when applying for permits
- ✓Market Stabilization Potential: By accelerating affordable housing development, the solution contributes to broader housing market stabilization efforts
Future Expansion
Following the success in Los Angeles, Centauri Systems plans to expand this automated property evaluation service to other California regions. The platform's architecture—built on public APIs and cloud infrastructure—makes it readily adaptable to other municipalities' zoning data, potentially accelerating affordable housing development across the state.