Quote:
Originally Posted by bunt_q
That sounds like a terrible idea. Once you subdivide that out, you have to start being able to service that parcel separately with utilities, guarantee access, etc. our alleys simply aren't big enough to accommodate all of that - that's why we have streets. Suddenly you end up granting permanent easements across regular residential parcels, adding restrictions on what you can do there - effectively imposing side setbacks you wouldn't otherwise have.
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So what? If we're talking about single-family home neighborhoods that the city is never going to upzone enough for true multifamily housing anyway, why is that a problem? If a bungalow owner wants to grant a side yard easement to let someone get to their granny flat our back, you're going to say no?
Even if that is a problem that we must say no to, you can bypass most of those issues by allowing alley houses to be rentals but not separate for-sale properties, leaving access as a problem for the owner of the main house to solve, on their own property. I know, I know, Denver has a particular shortage of affordable for-sale housing, but even if we refuse to help solve that problem with alley houses, why shouldn't we help solve the affordable apartment problem if we can?
Meanwhile, this might actually help densify single-family neighborhoods to the point where they could support more corner stores, better walkable main streets, and improved bus headways.
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