by Lucia Athens
One of our pressing sustainability planning problems is how to increase density in our cities without it becoming the dreaded “D-word” that some people seem to think it is. Density in downtown cores will naturally include high-rises. But density can also be increased in existing neighborhoods without significantly impacting the “feel” and building height of the community.
The City of Austin has developed a program to specifically address this issue. The Alley Flat Initiative is a unique collaboration between the Austin Community Design Development center, the University of Texas at Austin Center for Sustainable Development, and the Guadalupe Neighborhood Development Corporation. The idea has to do with adding small footprint housing along single family back alley locations. Often called “mother-in-law” units, “backyard cottages,” or in Seattle ADU’s (Accessory Dwelling Units), this idea is beneficial for creating more diverse housing choices and encouraging inter-generational neighborhoods. This housing type is designed to be very affordable and adaptable to existing conditions, and take advantage of 40,000 residential lots in Austin that are already zoned to accept them. In addition, alley flats can be combined with distributed infrastructure and an interconnective alley network by layering on stormwater management, urban agriculture, alternative transit modes such as bikeways, and community gathering spaces.
Several design/build studios with the University of Texas at Austin have already designed and built alley flat projects in several Austin neighborhoods. The first project, in East Austin features PV solar arrays, rainwater collection, natural ventilation, and good daylighting. This project provides secondary rental income to the property owner. The second project is occupied by an elderly grandmother, so she can live close to her family and grandchildren. Sergio Pallerone, formerly with the UW College of the Built Environment, led some of the classes previously. (Sergio is now with Portland State University). The students at UT did research into other accessory dwelling unit initiatives, including in Santa Monica, Seattle, and Portland. A recent USA Today article featured backyard cottage housing in Seattle. See http://www.usatoday.com/news/2010-05-25-cottages_N.htm
For more on Austin’s Alley Flats, see http://www.thealleyflatinitiative.org/vision and http://www.acddc.org/
