Grass Root Efforts to Help Bring Back a Much-Loved Building Form
A group of Denver residents believe the city's new zoning code should allow for the building of so-called carriage houses.
Following implementation of the old code 53 years ago, city officials did away with residents' ability to build what are known as accessory dwelling units.
Bob Sperling, leader of the Friends of Granny group, says the issue is about choice.
"I believe in preserving Denver's single-family housing," said Sperling. "One of the ways of doing that, and to cut down on slash and burn by outside speculators on buying up property, bulldozing it and putting up duplexes, is to build accessory dwelling units."
Tina Axelrad, Denver's principal city planner, added that carriage houses wouldn't stylistically fit in with every neighborhood.
The proposed code would allow for carriage houses of up to 1,000 square feet, which has Sperling thrilled. But he does not believe a neighborhood-by-neighborhood approach is appropriate. Sperling is of the mindset that planners should simply allow for carriage houses on a citywide basis.
Thanks to Daniel Markovsky
FULL STORY: Add-Ons Vs. Scrape-Offs
Jacksonville Legalizes Accessory Dwelling Units
The city expanded the areas where homeowners can build ADUs in an effort to boost housing supply and affordable rental units.
Maine Looks To Legalize ‘Missing Middle Housing’
Maine could become the third state to eliminate single-family-only zoning to encourage light density increases in residential areas and make it easier for homeowners to build accessory dwelling units.
San Diego Residents Challenge the City's ADU Regulations
Residents in some of the city's single-family neighborhoods worry about the potential impacts of ADU construction on local character and parking.
The Shifting Boomer Bulge: More Bad News for America’s Housing Crisis?
In the first of a two-part series, PlaceMakers’ Ben Brown interviews housing guru Arthur C. Nelson on the sweeping demographic changes complicating the housing market.
New York Governor Advances Housing Plan Amid Stiff Suburban Opposition
Governor Kathy Hochul’s ambitious proposal to create more housing has once again run into a brick wall of opposition in New York’s enormous suburbs, especially on Long Island. This year, however, the wall may have some cracks.
A Serious Critique of Congestion Costs and Induced Vehicle Travel Impacts
Some highway advocates continue to claim that roadway expansions are justified to reduce traffic congestion. That's not what the research shows. It's time to stop obsessing over congestion and instead strive for efficient accessibility.
Ranking Exclusionary Zoning: D.C., New York Metro Areas Top the List
A new database measures the restrictiveness of exclusionary zoning practices around the country. Exclusionary zoning, it turns out, is much more prevalent than commonly acknowledged.
Historically Redlined Neighborhoods Have Higher Rates of Pedestrian Deaths, Study Says
The consequences of historic redlining continue to have consequences in the present day United States. Add another example to the list.
Tolling All Lanes
Bay Area transportation planners are studying a radical idea to reduce traffic congestion and fund driving alternatives: tolling all lanes on a freeway. Even more radical, the plan considers tolling parallel roads.
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City of Greenville
Resource Assistance for Rural Environments (RARE) AmeriCorps Program
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
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City of Spearfish
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Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
