Some people call them carriage houses. Others say “mother-in-law suite” or “granny flat.” However you want to refer to a smaller, independent unit on the same lot as a bigger house— think of a garage converted into an apartment—a bill working its way through City Hall could make it much easier to build one in the city of St. Louis.
Alderwoman Shameem Clark Hubbard prefers the term “accessory dwelling units”—and a bill she is sponsoring to deal with them cleared an important hurdle last week. It would add accessory dwelling units to the types of “permitted uses” in residential districts, thus removing the requirement to get a zoning variance prior to construction.
Supporters say that carriage houses are ideal for all sorts of situations. As their nicknames suggest, they allow for a member of the extended family to live close by–but not too close by. Clark Hubbard and others say they’re useful for a college-aged child who wants a little bit of space and seniors who can’t afford or no longer need their house’s full square footage. A carriage house allows them to age in place and potentially earn additional income renting out the main house. Accessory dwelling units are often used for short-term rentals as well…