Granny Flats

Residential Development

More Cities Legalizing 'Granny Flats'

Accessory Dwelling Units continue to gain steam as one approach for increasing affordability, but experts caution that housing affordability requires broader solutions.

January 15, 2021 - The Washington Post

Washington State

Small Cities Relax Accessory Dwelling Units Regulations Too

A city of about 40,000 residents across the Puget Sound from Seattle has relaxed zoning regulations to entice more homeowners to build accessory dwelling units.

January 7, 2021 - The Urbanist

Accessory Dwelling Unit

Accessory Dwelling Units Gain Legislative Momentum in Denver

Accessory dwelling units, also known as granny flats or mother-in-law units, gained a critical foothold in Denver earlier this month, and the Denver City Council is already maneuvering for more.

November 30, 2020 - The Denver Post

Accessory Dwelling Unit

An Online Portal for Designing Accessory Dwelling Units

The ADUniverse website offers pre-approved designs for homeowners who want to add Accessory Dwelling Units on properties in Seattle.

September 17, 2020 - The Urbanist

Accessory Dwelling Unit

California Cities Going the Extra Mile to Support ADU Construction

A few jurisdictions have gone beyond conformity with state law to encourage the construction of accessory dwelling units in the state of California, like in San Diego.

August 17, 2020 - Next City

Accessory Dwelling Unit

ADU Ordinance Ready for City Council Scrutiny in Chicago

Chicago residents will have the option of building coach houses or convection units if a new law passes as written through the Chicago City Council.

May 21, 2020 - Chicago Cityscape

Senior Mobility

Report: Urban Planning and Design Neglecting the Needs of Seniors

Many cities aren't planning and designing for their aging residents, despite a world full of examples to model from, according to a new report from the Milliken Institute.

October 30, 2019 - Smart Cities Dive

Accessory Dwelling Unit

Appetite for ADUs Rises in San Jose

San Jose has issued a steadily-rising number of ADU permits in recent years. Now, Mayor Sam Liccardo has implemented measures to ease the process for homeowners who want to build granny flats.

August 30, 2019 - The Mercury News

Accessory Dwelling Unit

How One Town Solved its ADU Regulation Challenges

Against opposition, the town of Durango, Colorado has successfully found a way to permit accessory dwelling units and legalize those that already existed under the radar.

May 24, 2019 - CityLab

Accessory Dwelling Unit

ADU Construction Still Difficult in California

Accessory dwelling units should be easier to build in California, but the process is still slow and complicated in many cities, say housing advocates.

January 22, 2019 - The Mercury News

Washington

Suburbs Encouraging Accessory Dwelling Units

Renton, a suburb of Seattle dealing with skyrocketing housing prices like many of the communities in the region, is allowing new density in residential neighborhoods in the form of backyard cottages.

December 8, 2018 - Crosscut

Accessory Dwelling Unit

Granny Flats Take on the Los Angeles Homelessness Crisis

A program financed by Bloomberg Philanthropies will pay homeowners to build accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and rent them to the recently homeless.

November 9, 2018 - The New York Times

Granny Flats Legalized Citywide in St. Paul

The Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) movement has take hold in the Twin Cities. Now ADUs are allowed all over the city of St. Paul.

October 18, 2018 - Pioneer Press

Hover Board

The New Dream Home Includes a Granny Flat

You can pay off the mortgage, but you can never leave.

October 16, 2018 - The New York Times

Accessory Dwelling Unit

Op-Ed: Seattle Merely 'Inching Forward' on ADUs

They're a good start. But compared to similar policies in cities like Portland and Vancouver, Seattle's new policies around accessory dwelling units may be lackluster.

October 12, 2018 - The Urbanist

Oakwood Modernist House

Raleigh Could Legalize Accessory Dwelling Units—With Lots of Strings Attached

Residents in parts of Raleigh would be allowed to build accessory dwelling units (ADUs) on their property, if a majority of their neighbors approve the idea.

September 6, 2018 - The News & Observer

San Diego Rail

San Diego City Council Prohibits Short-Term Rentals in Second Homes and ADUs

In a move to limit the number of properties available for rental, the San Diego City Council members voted 6-3 to limit rentals to primary homes and the licensing process more strict.

July 24, 2018 - San Diego Union Tribune

Accessory Dwelling Unit

Portland Makes ADU Incentives Permanent

Development fees can add some $15,000 to the cost of building a home in Portland. Residents adding an accessory dwelling unit to their property won't need to worry about those expenses, as long as they don't use the limit for short-term rentals.

May 9, 2018 - Portland Tribune

Complying With New State Laws on ADUs No Easy Matter

Santa Rosa is struggling to complying with two laws passed last year to encourage construction of inlaw units to increase affordable housing. Council members are concerned that loosened restrictions would degrade neighborhood character.

December 11, 2017 - The Press Democrat

Granny Flats for Affordable Housing in West Denver

Like many of the country's sunny and popular cities, Denver is struggling to house its people. Accessory dwelling units, otherwise known as Granny Flats, could be part of a solution to that problem.

December 2, 2017 - The Denver Post

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.

Transportation Planner I

KFH Group Inc.

Director, Strategy and Research

Greater Baltimore Committee

Senior Planner

Eagle County Government

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