Alley Living is Good?

Narrative from the Rosedale-Nevitt-CPD Zoning Code Update Meeting

May 26, 2009 By Granny Kevin D

I sat in a group of REALLY nice ladies, and our assignment was to identify the context of what we thought was best for Rosedale. Their knowledge of the neighborhood was great, they’d lived there a long time, moved at least twice within Rosedale, and even built new homes over closer to Yale.

Granny Kevin: “Carriage homes behind single family homes down by Broadway make sense”

LADY#1: “Oh, I don’t think so, we used to live down there and there’s a bad problem with vagrants in the alley.”

G.K.: “Carriage homes are perfect for that. There’s less mischief by people in that alley because they know residents might be watching out their window down on the alley”.

LADY#2: “That’s true, but I would NEVER want to live on the Broadway-Lincoln alley”

GK: “No, but what if you were a waitress working in a restaurant on Broadway, sick of roommates and apartment buildings, and only making $1600/month? Wouldn’t you just love it?”

LADY #1: “I guess you’re right!”

Citizens of Denver, Please Weigh In!

In the INC May newsletter, information on ADU's was published.

A counterpoint from WWP official Charlie Busch has been received, which we encourage comments on:


"An article about carriage houses was written in the May INC newsletter by those who activelypromote Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). This article offers a different perspective.
The earlier article relayed an example where the occupants of an ADU would be relatives or care givers of the residents of the main house. While this may in some instances be the case, the size of most of these units (most often 300-500 square feet) suggests that a more likely occupant may be a renter. Injecting more renters into stable neighborhoods generally increases a transitional population, which could destabilize the current owner-occupied balances of our neighborhoods and make it harder to maintain single family homes. It is possible to mandate that an owner occupy either the main dwelling unit or the ADU on each property, as is required by a number of cities permitting ADUs. Such a requirement could serve to curb complaints that arise from ADUs, such as excessive noise. However, we understand the City has rejected this idea, citing concern that enforcing such requirements would be difficult and time-consuming. As Denver residents, many of us have first-hand experience with the difficulties of enforcing code violations regarding residency requirements. Given this, even if an owner-occupancy restriction was imposed under the new Code, it seems unlikely thatmeaningful enforcement in a City as large as Denver could be achieved without a major investment of resources. Unfortunately, the City has stated it has no resources for such enforcement activities.

Without the certainty of an owner-occupant on the premises, neighbors adjacent to ADUs couldbe subjected to increased alley noise, lack of privacy and traffic from what could easily translate into garage housing for students and young adults. Of course, there is a need for housing for such populations, but this is perhaps best accommodated in areas appropriately zoned for density. It is hard to dispute that individuals enjoying their college years and young adulthood frequently have lifestyles that can be out of synch with those valued by many in our predominantly single-family areas. Encouraging such uses in areas zoned for multi-family structures, or in areas of change where the inclusion of such uses is from the onset contemplated as part of the housing mix, can better address everyone’s needs and desires.

In addition to issues of differing lifestyles, privacy issues arise from allowing ADUs in single family home neighborhoods. As Denver residents, we spend significant resources to enhance our backyards, which for many of us serve as our only outdoor oasis from the hustle and bustle of city life. While a property owner with an ADU may fill her lot with more square footage of living space, the neighbor next door or across the alley suffers the lack of privacy in his backyard that ensues from the presence of an adjacent garage apartment. The quiet enjoyment of our outdoor spaces would be compromised.

It should also be noted that each additional living unit, on average, currently demands parking for one or two cars, and generates up to ten additional car trips per day. Some cities permitting ADUs require that three parking spaces be provided, and that one space be reserved solely for the ADU. But again, even if the new Code were to adopt such a requirement, enforcement likely would be an issue.

In the end, we must ask ourselves how much we, as residents in Denver’s existing stable neighborhoods, are willing to surrender in lifestyle for the profit of others. Clearly this type of housing should not be permitted in all of our Denver neighborhoods. The City should exempt single family home zone districts from this type of use and density. Otherwise, we must face the fact that such districts will no longer be single family home districts."

Granny's response:

In the city's words:

"Denver's 53-year-old zoning code is broken and needs to be fixed. It suffers from more than a half century of incremental changes that have made it complicated, inconsistent and cumbersome. Denver needs a new zoning code that will support a growing economy, a sustainable environment, a diverse mix of housing, strong neighborhoods, and a high quality of life."

We also feel that the old zoning code "didn't quite get it right". It was drafted during a time when people were afraid of many things about urban areas, the "Top 3" being density, traffic and parking. Carriage houses were outlawed due to these fears. The facts at the time weren't evaluated sufficiently. Those facts still exist today -- that Denver's thousands of carriage houses cause very few problems compared to the benefits for the city and its residents.

In other cities that have adopted ADU codes, only one home per thousand is converted per year. This is not something to fear.

Please comment below!

Who are the Friends of Granny?

Our leader is Bob Sperling, one of the concerned Denver citizens successful in forcing the removal of the largest radioactive dump site in the nation near urban dwellings, Shattuck.

For more on Bob:

http://www.du.edu/today/stories/2007/05/2007-05-07-zoning.html


Niccolo Casewit is a Denver resident who wants to build a legal Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) for his an 87 year-old mother Charlotte inside his home in West Denver’s Barnum Neighborhood (currently zoned R-1).

Nancy D, Owner and resident of a lovely carriage house close to Old South Pearl Street.

Rebecca Alexis, Owner/Occupant of a tasteful new duplex unit on South Pennsylvania St.

Penelope Zeller, Homeowner/Resident and RNO official for North City Park Civic Association.

Michael Kephart, Homeowner/Resident in North Washington Park. Mike can answer technical questions about ADU's throughout the metro region. (303) 777- 5642

Christine Tomovich, Applewood resident, (303) 523-3776

Jay Pearson, West Wash Park Resident

Report on ADU's and model code

Please follow this link to the State of Washington report on Accessory Dwelling Units
http://www.mrsc.org/Publications/textadu.aspx

ADU Benefits List

1. Provides supplemental income - justifying reinvestment, and higher property values

2. Gives homeowners more options – family use, home office, aging/ill parent, workforce/affordable rental, caregiver housing, occasional guests, etc.

3. Creates community integrated “affordable” housing – at no cost to the city

4. ADU’s represent market driven, private sector financed and built affordable units

5. Gives the current homeowner the potential to profit without selling & moving

6. Creates an “activated alley” safer and more desirable than what we have now

7. In existing R-2 zones, it legalizes front-back “detached duplexes” where only attached housing is legal now. A new side by side attached duplex often changes neighborhood character. The old code’s bias against “detached homes” seems unreasonable

8. Offers a better financial return than investing in the stock market

9. Creates a more sustainable housing type than sprawling suburban greenfield developments

10. The increased value can help thwart scrapeoffs by redevelopers

11. In transit zones, increases transit ridership

12. Is a more natural, attractive alternative to a “mega duplex” in the R-2 zone

13. Justifies holding onto homes longer and "aging in place"

14. The added income makes mortgage affordable, which can turn renters into owners

15. Helps homeowners preserve and build future NET WORTH for retirement

16. Preserves neighborhood character by providing an alternative to scrapeoffs

17. Increases population density (inevitable, despite local scattered resistance)

18. Cuts parking load on streets because a new large, usable garage is built where none may have been before

19. Reduces commuting by providing housing closer to jobs, which reduces air pollution

20. Encourages social/economic diversity in a live-work-play environment

21. Encourages families with DPS (Denver Public School) children – to remain in area, which increases enrollment preventing school closures

22. Slows housing turnover – which increases stability

23. Daytime activity on premises and in alley can reduce crime

24. The construction/remodel phase creates employment within the neighborhood

25. Creates affordable housing (apartment rental) in upscale areas

26. Extends life of useful home ownership – contributing to stability, self esteem

28. Adds much needed space and updates to older, small homes, improving livability

29. Provides at-home office facilities

30. Makeover can include making home more senior friendly

31. Revitalizes the often neglected rear of property

32. Seniors who stay in their home benefit from a law that freezes their property tax

33. Puts retirement dollars in more secure investment (home based real estate)

34. Makes it easier for extended families to remain together

35. Creates an ideal location for a solar energy photovoltaic installation


REASONS AGAINST:

1. Higher density in R-1 only

2. Poor management could allow undesirable tenants

Carriage House Newsletter #1

Here's a link to a standalone newsletter about carriage houses:

Carriage House Newsletter #1

For Neighborhood Newsletters

150-word version


Carriage Houses Offer More Choice for Denver Homeowners

Present zoning code limits what homeowners can do with their property to accommodate elderly parents, companions or changing circumstances. They can add on, pop the top, or scrape and rebuild. But these are costly options.
A less-expensive choice is the Carriage House, a secondary dwelling that can be used as an office, guest house, studio, or apartment for a relative, companion or caregiver.
Denver’s Zoning Code Task Force has been working on a proposal to reintroduce the Carriage House to our community. These efforts are supported by a group of homeowners called Friends of Granny Flats, who believe that Carriage Houses, also known as Granny Flats or Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU’s), are a positive step for communities.
Friends of Granny encourages homeowners to learn about Carriage Houses by attending one of the Zoning Task Force’s community education meetings in May.
Dates, times and locations can be found at www.newcodedenver.org.
Friends of Granny can also answer direct questions at friendsofgrannyflats@gmail.com


300-word version

Carriage Houses Offer More Choice for Denver Homeowners

Present zoning code limits what homeowners can do to their property to accommodate elderly parents, companions or changing circumstances. They can add on, pop the top, or scrape and rebuild. But these are costly options.
A less-expensive choice is the Carriage House, a secondary dwelling that can be used as an office, guest house, studio, or apartment for a relative, companion or caregiver.
Imagine two 1890 Victorian homes side by side on the same street. The owners of both properties want to improve their homes. One homeowner decides to scrape the property and replace it with a duplex. That would result in two modern side-by-side homes on the same lot where the Victorian once stood. Neighbors worry that the character of their street would suffer.
The other homeowner chooses to build a Granny Flat above a detached garage in the back yard and rent the flat to a niece. Her rent will pay the relatively modest cost of building the structure and may also help finance improvements to the Victorian.
Neighbors praise the homeowner for preserving the character of the street. The only problem is that existing city code won’t allow this solution because a dwelling unit is not permitted in the back third of the property.
Denver’s Zoning Code Task Force wants to fix that problem with a proposal to reintroduce the Carriage House to our community. These efforts are supported by a group of homeowners called Friends of Granny Flats, who believe that Carriage Houses, also known as Granny Flats or Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU’s), are a positive step for communities.
Carriage Houses help preserve neighborhood character while allowing seniors more options than scraping their homes or moving out.
Next month, the Task Force will have a series of community meetings to explain their ideas on a whole range of zoning changes. Friends of Granny encourages homeowners to attend one of these community meetings.
Dates, times and locations can be found at www.newcodedenver.org.
Friends of Granny can also answer direct questions at friendsofgrannyflats@gmail.com