3 neighborhoods in Denver now allowed to build second homes on their property

DENVER — Neighborhood by neighborhood, Denver is changing into a friendlier place for owners who need to construct a second, smaller house on their property.

The town council voted to rezone three neighborhoods in west Denver to permit them to construct accent dwelling models or ADUs. 

“We all know accent dwelling models typically by different names like a carriage home or a mother-in-law house,” stated Councilwoman Jamie Torres, who represents District 3. “It is a indifferent construction, so it is a separate house on the property that’s accent to the first.”

Councilwoman Torres labored to cross laws for rezoning in Villa Park, Barnum and Barnum West, all neighborhoods in her district. 

“They’re getting used for household to dwell in, for grown youngsters who cannot transfer elsewhere who aren’t capable of finding a house of their very own, or aged mother and father and family members, and for leases,” she stated. 

Brian Cody lately started building on an ADU in his yard in Villa Park. It was already zoned for a indifferent unit, and his ADU can be three bedrooms, almost the scale of his main house. 

Cody, who has lived within the neighborhood for 23 years, hopes to lease out his unit to his nieces and nephews who graduate from school. 

“In the event that they need to dwell in Denver that is in all probability going to be one in every of their solely choices,” he stated. 

The construct is simply costing Cody about $150,000 due to the town initiative, the West Denver Renaissance Collaborative (WDRC) which serves 9 west Denver neighborhoods impacted by gentrification. 

“In case you have been on the lookout for a three-bedroom within the metropolis – you wouldn’t be capable of construct that on the worth that we’re constructing ADUs,” stated Renee Martinez-Stone, who runs WDRC by means of the Denver Housing Authority. 

Not solely does WDRC assist with funding, however they assist owners navigate the method of constructing by supplying architects and contractors. 

“If it wasn’t for them actually I do not suppose I might afford it,” stated Cody. 

Cody added this further earnings from a rental property can be an incentive to remain in his neighborhood, and never take a proposal from an investor. 

“I might moderately actually keep right here as a result of there’s nowhere else to go,” he stated. 

It wasn’t till Councilwoman Amanda Sandoval pushed to rezone the Chaffee Park neighborhood in 2019 that full neighborhood rezonings had even occurred in Denver. 

Earlier than that, particular person owners must navigate the method and pay to rezone their property themselves. 

Councilwoman Torres stated a full rezoning of the town must be finished by Neighborhood Planning and Growth, and never each neighborhood desires to have this dialog. 

She stated her district did not need to wait, so that they made it occur in west Denver. 

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