Not forcing "style-matching" are among the recommendations for a good accessory dwelling unit (ADU) policy
In an effort to densify and address affordable housing, cities make several key mistakes when it comes to "granny flats," according to CityLab. Vancouver-based writer and architect Bryn Davidson cites that city's accessory dwelling unit (ADU) policy as a successful model in a number of ways, including design, parking and approvals.
Five important recommendations include: implement ADU policy citywide rather than a neighborhood pilot project, don't burden the policy with caveats based on the existing unit on-site, don't solicit feedback from neighbors, don't let parking requirements overwhelm the policy, and don't force "style-matching."
Davidson concludes by writing:
"As for what’s next: we need to start talking about how our pleasant, tree-lined, single-family neighborhoods can evolve into pleasant, tree-lined multifamily neighborhoods."
Vancouver's ADU policy is arguably a big success, with more than 2,000 units built across the city since 2010.
FULL STORY: How Cities Get 'Granny Flats' Wrong
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.
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Vancouver is famous for high-rises and a decidedly urban quality of life, but housing prices are still skyrocketing. A new ten-year housing strategy proposes a few drastic measures to rebalance the market's scales.
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The Tesla Cybertruck was recalled seven times last year.
National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions
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Retro-silient?: America’s First “Eco-burb,” The Woodlands Turns 50
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Analysis: Cybertruck Fatality Rate Far Exceeds That of Ford Pinto
The Tesla Cybertruck was recalled seven times last year.
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