Hi friends,

You asked and we’ve answered! This issue of Building Better Cities is in response to a fellow reader’s interest in accessory dwelling units (ADUs). Here’s my take:

Once upon a time, charming duplexes, quaint triplexes, and cozy quads lined city streets. Today? Decades of zoning laws and financing models have shifted focus towards single-family homes and apartment buildings, leading to a notable 'missing middle' in urban housing.

City councils across the US are embracing new policies to address this gap. Among those: ADUs, commonly known as granny units or in-law units. Dozens of cities are turning to ADUs to increase property tax bases, expand housing supply, and reduce climate impacts of continued urban sprawl. To add perspective, California has permitted over 80k ADUs since 2016!

ADUs not only increase housing supply but also respond to the growing demand for walkable neighborhoods. ADUs utilize existing infrastructure and provide housing options without the need for new greenfield developments. This month, we're examining middle housing and exploring why zoning reform is essential but not enough for building better cities.

Want your idea featured in the next issue? Keep scrolling,
Kate

Make ADUs more pervasive

• Clarify utility connection laws to unlock ADU development [The Urbanist]

• Offer alternative financing sources since institutional financing doesn’t favor the missing middle [Terner Center]

• Remove parking minimums for residential units to drive more ADU development [Sightline]

Get ADUs to help with housing affordability

• Provide subsidies to help ADUs become more affordable, most ADUs cater to market rate renters [Brookings]

• Ensure monthly rent for low-income ADU rentals like LA’s ADU Accelerator [Bloomberg Cities]

• Copy San Diego and allow additional ADUs, for each low-income ADU built [Fast Company]

Address the missing middle with other policies

• California’s SB 9 allows quads to be built on most single family parcels [Terner Center]

• Minneapolis was the first large city to eliminate single family housing [Local Housing Solutions]

• South Bend’s pre-approved infill housing designs speed up development [Strong Towns]

Cities in the News

• Matching students and seniors- could this be an innovative approach to helping the unhoused? [Next City]

• New building standard aims to cut 10% energy use while requiring on-site renewables [UtilityDive]

• California’s infill housing could reduce cut per capita climate pollution by 25% [Terner Center]

• Paris vibes requires aggressive investments in public housing and subsidies for local businesses, preventing chain businesses [NYTimes]

• 1/13 vacant homes in Baltimore are about to go on sale for $1 [Baltimore Sun]

• Cleveland’s new TIF district will catalyze downtown development [Cleveland.com]

• At the same time, Chicago’s Mayor proposes plan to end TIF districts [Block Club Chicago]