Everything Old is New Again

Granny Flats: Everything Old is New Again

Here's the letter I wrote to City Council last week when B told me that the new zoning laws would be on their agenda this week. "I understand you will be discussing the new zoning laws next week. I would like to urge you to support the use of accessory dwelling units. In addition to providing more affordable housing, some of the benefits include

• increased security
• care and support for ailing family members
• increased supply of affordable housing
  
• efficient use of existing housing stocks and infrastructure
• promote growth while conserving land and preventing sprawl

After more than 30 years of living in Highland neighborhood, I know that one of the best things about living in an inner city neighborhood is the diversity of both the houses and the population. ADUs are an excellent way to preserve this important characteristic of inner city living."

Portland, Oregon became a leader in the national movement to allow ADUs when they revised their regulations earlier this year. One Portland builder explains, "Before WWII, ADUs were a common fixture of American communities because they integrated well into neighborhoods, provided affordable housing options for young and old, and facilitated inter-generational living for families. However, after WWII, national patterns of urban development shifted toward low-density suburban sprawl and ADUs fell out of favor. Decades of urban blight, segregation, car dependence, and loss of greenspace followed."

Now cities, including Denver, are looking at these smaller infill units to provide smarter growth patterns and diversity to revitalized urban neighborhoods.

“What will you do with your stuff?”

When people hear about my move to the Auntie Flat, that’s the first question they ask. I remind them that I am currently living in about the same space that I will have in the Auntie Flat. The rest of my house has simply become storage for things I never use and need to get rid of.

I’m currently reading Radical Simplicity by Dan Price. Now, I am not and probably never will be a minimalist. I have no intention of living in a tipi (not that there’s anything wrong with that.)

Price wrote, “I was learning that if I didn’t pay attention and pack out at least as much stuff as I packed in, my space would be come filled with all kinds of crap. This has proved to be something that I’ve had to be almost fanatically diligent about, especially when inhabiting such tiny places.

Friends have advised me that the rule of minimalism is “one thing in, one thing out.”

Here’s a list of essential items Price thought he needed to live successfully:

· Electricity

· Hot plate

· Microwave

· Refrigerator

· Stereo/TV

· Computer/copier

· Water heater

· Sink

· Toilet

· Shower or tub

· Lights

· Books

· Heater, etc.

Once he actually started living his life, he thought this list seemed “pretty ridiculous” Hmm. Looks pretty similar to my list, although the computer can substitute for the TV and stereo (and at least some of the books). Maybe I’ll change my mind by the time I finish reading his book.

Meanwhile, I’ve been packing up things to donate to charity. If you’d like to read another blog on this topic, check out the Wealthy Bohemian: A Place for my “Stuff”: Good Will.

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The Auntie Flat

Life can throw some delicious and unexpected curves. A week ago, I lived in a 120 year old house that was falling down around me. I worried about paying for upkeep and repairs because I have neither the skills nor the inclination to learn them.

Today, while I haven’t moved, I am in the process of helping design a new loft-style home to be built on this lot once the old house is demolished. I’m so excited I can hardly stand it.

It started, as many adventures do, with a serendipitous juxtaposition of events. I was growing increasingly concerned about my ability to maintain my house as things kept breaking and I struggled to keep it livable.

At the same time, my brother and sister-in-law lived in a very nice, but distant patio home in the suburb, but spent quite a bit of time in my inner city neighborhood. The yoga center where they both practice and my sister-in-law teaches is in North Denver. They wanted to move to this area, but faced a sluggish real estate market for their house and soaring housing prices in the city.

We are all in our early 60s now and starting to think about simplifying and downsizing our lives. My brother (B), who is an architect, wanted to design their dream house.

The answer, in retrospect, seems obvious. B could design two new units for my land—a house for them and a smaller apartment for me. One day at lunch with my sister-in-law (SL), I told her my idea, thinking she would tell me I was crazy and that would NEVER work. Instead, she said she had had the same idea. Oh, my.

She agreed to talk to B about it, and we tucked it away as something that might evolve in the future, maybe 7-10 years. Then last week, B called and asked if I was still interested.

Yes.

We all had lunch and talked about what we would like to have in our new homes and it looks as if it could actually happen in the very near future. The project faces many potential problems and could still all fall through, but I’m moving ahead thinking this is going to work.

I’ve already started my usual M.O. of doing research and I’ll be writing more about it soon. It’s a whole new learning project. One of the first things I discovered was that the current terminology labels small secondary residences on a property “granny flats.” Well, I’m nobody’s granny, so I’ve dubbed mine the Auntie Flat. Stay tuned.