Holly Terrill

Accessory dwelling units or apartments. Mother-in-law-suites. Granny flats. These are all different terms to describe small, freestanding cottages, repurposed garages, or small sheds. Their small size (usually around 500 square feet) makes them perfect those looking for affordable housing in a dense, walkable neighborhood.

According to urban planner Jeff Speck, “when driving is too cheap, roads get too crowded. When parking is too cheap, parking gets too crowded. And when people park too much, a bunch of bad things happen: people circle in search of spots; they double park; or they get frustrated and drive back home without shopping. Next time, they drive to the mall instead."

About 35 percent of all land area downtown is currently devoted to parking...Places that lack spatial definition make pedestrians feel unsafe, and walkability suffers.