See which alders support ADU legislation (map)
The “re-legalize coach houses” petition that was launched three weeks ago (including in Spanish) has 1,092 signers as of this writing. Everyone who signed it was invited to leave a message or tell a story about why they support the idea, or why they want coach houses to become legal again in Chicago.
All of these quotations were left by signers or people who sent in their story before the petition was created. Many of the reasons fit in multiple categories.
Family housing options
“I have a daughter with a significant developmental delay. I would like her to be able to live somewhat independently in a coach house behind my house.”
“As a middle class family, renovating this space is far more affordable than renovating the first two floors of our home. We have family in Brazil and New Zealand who come to stay with us for extended periods, I live with Stage Four cancer, and at some point, we will need a live-in care giver for me or for our children (3 and 5). A granny flat would also allow for additional rental income in the future, which with my health situation, could ensure our ability to keep our home AND offer another individual an affordable place to live in our quickly gentrifying neighborhood.”
“Homeowners can enjoy the benefit of having children/parents/friends/caretakers/students living on their land and sharing costs.”
“Extra income and increasing housing options in the neighborhood. We may use it if our parents move in when they get older.”
“Our family would be interested in a design build for a coach house in the near future if this passes. This change also provides a solid retirement housing option for empty nesters moving to the city from the suburbs with income-generating units in the front and a owner-occupied area in the rear.”
“Although we have loved having my parents in the same town (and my kids have enjoyed having their grandparents nearby), they would appreciate the independence that would come from having separate space in a coach house. It would be a great way for us to continue to have the benefits of multi-generational living (after school childcare and communal meals), but also providing all of us more privacy and freedom.”
“We want my parents to age-in-place. They live in the primary residence on their single-family zoned lot. We would like to build a two-story coach house to replace their garage.”
“I can’t right now — but my longterm goal is to purchase a property in Chicago, and build an ADU for my parents and my fiancé’s parents to age in when they retire.”
Increase incomes
“Chicago needs policy to encourage continued affordable housing, and restrictive zoning is counterproductive to our city’s long-term economic well-being. In addition, as property taxes continue to increase, ADUs help homeowners afford the additional costs through supplemental income.”
“To provide more low-density housing in my neighborhood while also having the potential to improve my property and make additional income.”
Affordable housing
“When I moved back to Chicago after spending a year in Washington, DC, I rented a small room in a rear coach house in Bucktown for $300 per month. As an unemployed person seeking work, this was the most ideal arrangement I could be in while reentering the workforce and readjusting to life in Chicago.”
“I’ve seen the effects of large housing developments on rents and affordability on the most vulnerable members of our city. Chicago does not have a “housing crisis”; it has a housing affordability crisis — there’s lots of housing being built in Chicago; it’s just not being built for Chicagoans who are not being included in the past few years of development in our city. I strongly agree with the points made by the petition about adding soft density without radically changing the character of neighborhoods, the sustainable nature of these types of conversions, and the assertion that passing this ordinance will create opportunities for small businesses.”
“I own multiple properties and see how much demand there is for nice, smaller places with lower rent. It would also make two-flat more financially feasible for investors. Also, I just think coach houses are great and should be preserved and used as dwellings.”
“Chicago needs policy to encourage continued affordable housing, and restrictive zoning is counterproductive to our city’s long-term economic well-being. In addition, as property taxes continue to increase, ADUs help homeowners afford the additional costs through supplemental income.”
Maintaining neighborhood density
“As we think about the long term future of our building, and our need for more space as our families grow, we’ve thought about consolidating from 3 to 2 units, but really wanted to keep a rental unit. Not only for the income, but to keep the density of people in our neighborhood that we think makes it vibrant. If coach houses were re-legalized it would definitely be part of our future considerations.”
“To allow for more families and neighbors to enter our wonderful neighborhoods. And to fund the pensions.”
“Density in cities create efficiency. Affordability allows for sustainability. Sharing land with family, friends, co-workers, students and care takers allows shared benefits. I have worked on existing buildings in Chicago for years. This tradition already exists in our building stock, time to bring it back.”
Building preservation
“I want others to build them so that historic districts can add new apartments without losing the beautiful homes that make it an attractive place to raise a family. I would want to build a coach house behind the 2 flat I want to own some day, so that I can have 2 rental units that might want to use the garage. Since my fiancée & I have no interest in owning a car, but our tenants might. Otherwise the garage would be sorely underutilized.”
“Saving existing buildings and improving their comfort and efficiency. Also producing buildings off-site and delivering to site for installation and enjoyment.”
“It will deter teardowns in favor of creatively maximizing the land footprint in a more unique and sustainable way.”
“A coach house is also a good way to preserve a century-old house. Many houses in our neighborhood have been torn down and replaced by larger-square footage house with smaller yards. A coach house would enable us to grow in place, adding additional living space while keeping a gorgeous old house in tact. A coach house at our location would help preserve historic housing, not distract from it.”