By Jason Nettles
The Historic District proposal has taken a turn from preserving the architectural character of the neighborhood to changing the single-family nature of Candler Park. The majority of the homes in Candler Park are zoned R4 or R5 and are currently permitted one Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU).
This can be a dwelling, a garage, a shed, etc. The most recent Historic District proposal allows for three ADUs. Simply put, if passed in its current form, your neighbors could potentially build triplexes in their backyards. The vast majority of us live on narrow 50-foot lots in Candler Park. Most of the increased density will therefore be behind the primary homes.
Access – how do the residents get to the rear-yard apartments? Most will park on the street and walk between the neighbors’ homes. Side yard setbacks are seven feet and can be fewer with variances, so the residents of six new households could be walking between your house and your neighbors’ houses to access their apartments. If you live on an alley, access could be through the alley, but that introduces parking and increased vehicle count in your alley.
Parking – our street parking is optimized, not overburdened, but there is no extra capacity on most streets.
Dwelling uses – dwelling units may be leased, so all three units could be leased to long-term tenants. Atlanta’s Short-Term Rental Ordinance allows for two short-term rentals (STR), so two of the ADUs could be Airbnb.
Affordable housing is an issue throughout Atlanta, and increased density is a great tool to address the issue. However, that density is more appropriately placed in under-utilized, larger sites. DeKalb Avenue, particularly near the MARTA station, is an obvious spot for more density. Adding density among existing single-family homes in a street grid that was developed in the early 1900s specifically for single-family homes is burdensome.
Jason Nettles, a 20-year resident of Candler Park, lives on Terrace Avenue in a 1940s-era home that will not meet the “contributing structure” guidelines today.