- Denver’s housing shortage has reached a crisis point.
- Local organizations are pushing for ADUs, which will be easier to build under the new regulations.
- Similar zoning changes were made in California in 2017, causing an explosive increase in ADUs in the state.
It’s becoming much easier for Denver residents to build tiny homes in their backyards.
Starting July 5, a zoning law approved by the city last month will see more of these smaller homes, known as attached units (ADUs), pop up throughout the Mile High City in an effort to fill the area’s housing shortage.By one estimate, the city and its surrounding areas are short about 70,000 houses.
When the law takes effect Wednesday, homeowners will be allowed to build ADUs large enough for families to live in. You can also turn existing buildings, such as garages, into entirely new, self-contained living quarters. According to the City of Denver. In densely populated areas of the city, homeowners will also be permitted to build two-story units.
“These changes will help make ADU a more viable and influential option and give residents more choice when it comes to living in the city,” said Denver City Councilman Chris Herndon. said in a release about
Similar laws in California created more homes in the state
Zoning revisions have had a major impact on California. Since 2017, homeowners who built ADUs are making thousands of dollars a month renting them out after many restrictions were lifted statewide. Other Californians use it to house their elderly parents and children, who otherwise could have lived at out-of-area prices.
2 Bedroom Adobu ADU in Sonoma.
Courtesy of Abodoo
Since 2018, more than 60,000 new homes have been approved across the Golden State, with an estimated housing shortage of 2 million. The state is often cited as an example of how effective this method is in solving the housing crisis.
May help delay gentrification in some regions
Denver is already seeing the impact ADU has on its residents. That’s especially true in the West Denver neighborhood. In recent years, the influx of newer and wealthier residents has pushed up prices, making it harder for low- and middle-income residents to afford housing. .
One of the organizations, the West Denver Renaissance Collaborative, is committed to providing information about ADU so that everyone in the area can understand the permitting process and secure funding.
“With the forced evictions and current housing crisis in West Denver, we need to provide as many tools as possible,” said WDRC Initiative Director Renee Martinez Stone. said in the video. She also serves as Planning Director for the Denver Housing Authority.
“We need to raise the ADU cap and provide a ladder for middle- and low-income families to access it.” she added.
keep the family together
Spanish-speaking Alonso Carrillo Muñoz, who has lived in the West Denver area for more than 20 years, participated in the WDRC’s ADU pilot program, according to WDRC.
Denver.
John Pashaloni/Getty Images
With WDRC’s help, he was able to apply in Spanish and secure a loan for his ADU payments from FirstBank, which offers services in Spanish. he said in the video.
“It meant that he would have his own home to retire to in the future,” added daughter Miriam Carrillo. Equally important was that he remained in the same neighborhood.