With an aim toward affordable housing and helping homeowners pay their mortgage, Seattle considers allowing backyard apartments, much to the chagrin of local opponents.
"The City Council will consider a proposal this week to allow such apartments in Southeast Seattle as an experiment, despite protests from other parts of Seattle, where activists consider the plan a step toward permitting 'backyard houses' citywide.
The debate, while centered on the appearance and character of individual streets and neighborhoods, goes further. It offers a glimpse at the challenges of creating affordable housing in Seattle, where 70 percent of the land is zoned for single-family houses, and land for apartments is scarce and increasingly expensive in the rush to build upscale condos."
Thanks to Matt Baumann
FULL STORY: Seattle may experiment with backyard apartments
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