Housing shortages are taking a toll everywhere. Large coastal cities are feeling it, and so too are smaller landlocked ones.
Population influx from California and Washington during the pandemic drove up housing prices in the Inland Northwest and Mountain West regions. Local governments are taking bold measures in Montana and Colorado to build up workforce housing supply, as reported by AN.
A recent study of Boise, Idaho, showed that only 5 percent of the Inland Northwest city’s housing stock is within reach for middle-income residents, or households making $75,000 a year. Boise needs to build at least 20,000 units of new housing by 2033 in order to meet projected demand.
Toward that end, Boise’s Planning and Development Services department now provides free, pre-approved blueprints for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), the city announced this month in a press release.
Boise residents can choose from a batch of eight plans that respond to varying site conditions and preferences. The ADUs were designed by Parke Architecture, a Boise firm led by architect Eamonn Parke.
Each of the eight options are named after the state birds of Idaho, based on the Boise Parks & Recreation Department’s “Field Guide to Boise Birds,” such as the sandpiper, osprey, and goldfinch. Some options are pre-approved for historic district compatibility purposes.
The ADUs range from 280 to 695 square feet, and come in studio, 1- and 2-bedroom configurations. They can either be built as freestanding, single-story homes or over garages.
“These plans are designed to balance efficiency, livability and neighborhood compatibility, giving homeowners a practical path to add housing while positively contributing to our community’s fabric,” Parke said.
“ADUs are an important part of expanding housing choice in our neighborhoods while maintaining the character that makes Boise special,” Parke continued. “By offering thoughtfully designed, pre-approved plans, we’re helping reduce barriers for homeowners and making it easier to create flexible living spaces.”
Similar ADU and pre-approved building plan programs have been deployed in Los Angeles, and more recently New York and Cincinnati.
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