CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WVIR) – A nationwide housing shortage has some localities getting creative to increase available housing. One answer could be allowing homeowners to build extra units on their property.
Accessory dwelling units could be part of the solution, but in Central Virginia, red tape and financing worries still mean ADU’s are few and far between.
“We could maybe double the number of housing units within the development areas simply by allowing someone to build an extra unit in their basement or their backyard,” said Stacy Pethia, director of housing for Albemarle County. “Part of the reason housing costs are so high is we just don’t have enough housing to meet the demand here.”…