I genuinely don't get the point. Of course the buildings aren't legal under current zoning laws. They weren't built under current zoning laws! We don't tear down every skyscraper whenever the earthquake requirements change. Nobody moves their house when the setback requirement goes from 8' to 12'. These kinds of articles are tautological.
edit: the article mentions "illegal neighborhoods and illegal houses" but doesn't say anything about the laws when they were built.
edit: the article mentions "illegal neighborhoods and illegal houses" but doesn't say anything about the laws when they were built.