Accessory Apartments: The State of the Art. Continually Updated Access to Experience.
Author(s):
Hare, Patrick H.
Publication Date:
3/1/1989
Availability:
Patrick H. Hare Planning and Design, 1246 Monroe St., NE, Washington, DC 20017.
Notes:
CP.
Descriptors:
Accessory apartments. Zoning. Rental housing. Low cost housing. Housing for low income persons.
Abstract:
This book synthesizes the experience of the large number of U.S. local governments that have amended their zoning to permit accessory apartments, which are separate housing units typically created in the surplus space in single-family homes. It also reviews the work of the Ministry of Housing and the Ministry of Municipal Affairs of the Canadian Province of Ontario. The book concludes that accessory apartments can provide various groups of homeowners with added income, security, companionship, and the opportunity to trade rent reductions for needed services. Additionally, accessory apartments have the potential of providing large numbers of affordable rental units integrated into communities without any need for subsidies. An effective zoning amendment to permit accessory apartments must address both civic association fears about neighborhood decay and homeowner needs for rapid and simple processing of applications. Such an amendment can be passed through a coalition of those who will benefit, including those with private-sector interests. A critical ingredient for generating significant numbers of installations is a "turnkey" style of marketing and counseling package for homeowners. A 62-item annotated bibliography is provided.
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