Gary Benjamin is the founder and Principal of Alchemy Planning + Land Use, a premier Los Angeles-based land-use consulting firm, specializing in multifamily, mixed-use, and affordable housing development. Since founding the firm in 2017, he has advised on the development and acquisition of over 900 properties throughout the Greater Los Angeles area and obtained 159 complex entitlement approvals in the City of Los Angeles with a 100% project approval rate, including entitlements for mixed-use and multifamily projects, comprising over 6,100 housing units, in 100 developments ranging in size from four units to 254 units.

Benjamin is recognized as an expert in the land use and housing development field, advising project teams early in the planning stage on how to utilize the nuances of the zoning code, recent land use legislation, and the discretionary approval process to maximize project value and achieve the highest and best use for a site. He is also a skilled problem-solver with strong relationships within city government, frequently brought in to assist project teams that have run into significant permitting and entitlement challenges, and working with them to achieve a successful resolution.

Benjamin holds a Master’s Degree in Urban and Regional Planning from UCLA and previously worked within the Los Angeles City Planning Department and as the land use and planning advisor to the former City Councilmember for Los Angeles City Council District 13, overseeing and guiding development in Hollywood, Silver Lake, and surrounding communities. He is passionate about finding solutions to bureaucratic challenges, growing the supply of housing, and contributing to the economic, social, and cultural development of the LA region.

Erika Thi Benjamin joined Alchemy Planning + Land Use as a Chief of Operations in 2025.

Erika brings over 14 years of experience in project and organizational management, having served in senior leadership roles overseeing teams of up to 25 staff for various national and international environmental and community economic development organizations. Erika also brings extensive experience building relationships with political stakeholders and government agency staff to build support for projects and policies. She excels in communicating complex initiatives to broad groups of constituents, presenting at public hearings, and securing community support when needed.

In her previous roles, she drafted and advocated for economic development policies in connection to multi-billion dollar transportation projects, which involved analyzing existing local and state policies and ensuring that proposed policies conformed with federal regulations. Erika is a creative and resourceful strategist who is ready to leverage her expertise to help project teams overcome bureaucratic hurdles to achieve timely and successful project outcomes.

Erika earned her Master’s Degree in Urban and Regional Planning from UCLA. She is driven by a commitment to rapidly grow the supply of housing in the LA region to promote a thriving, equitable, and culturally dynamic city.​