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
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The Shifting Boomer Bulge: More Bad News for America’s Housing Crisis?
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New York Governor Advances Housing Plan Amid Stiff Suburban Opposition
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A Serious Critique of Congestion Costs and Induced Vehicle Travel Impacts
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Ranking Exclusionary Zoning: D.C., New York Metro Areas Top the List
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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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