Granny Flats and Carriage Houses for Denver

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