Blog

With several awesome helpers, I'll be leading a bike tour, scavenger hunt and photo-inventory of "Missing Middle" housing types as part of Pedalpalooza 2015.  Here's a link to this particular ride, with details below. Meeting spot: Colonel Summers Park (Basketball...

Here's a short piece I wrote that was recently featured in the American Institute of Architect's "Blueprints for Senior Living" on-line magazine.  The theme for this issue was "Intergenerational Solutions."  Click here for the full article. Features Friends of All...

Thanks to several meetings and constructive discussions with neighbors and policy makers on my proposal to bump up density around the borders of neighborhood parks, I've crafted this updated proposal for inclusion in Portland's Comprehensive Plan: (1) The Map Direct...

My co-editors (Martin Brown and Kol Peterson) at AccessoryDwellings.org and I have been learning a lot about ADU codes and development over the past couple years.  We've noticed that: Lots of ADU codes that were adopted throughout the country 10-15 years ago are...

Proposal.  Create a legal path for the occupancy of small accessory structures or homes-on-wheels that meet sanitary and life safety requirements drawn from Portland’s Property Maintenance code and Oregon Landlord-Tenant law.  To be legally occupied, a tiny home would...

Back in 2007, I used the condominium legal structure in order to sell ADUs independently from the primary dwellings on two side-by-side lots for the Sabin Green development.  I thought at the time that this might become a more common development model, as lot &...

(Printed in the Oregonian as “Portland should increase residential density around parks” on 9/14/14) When Portland makes major public investments in transit corridors, we update zoning to allow more people to live nearby.  With neighborhood parks?  Apparently not....

Want to build a small structure on your Portland property?  You're definitely not alone.  Depending on the structure size, construction type and use, it could be classified in various ways.  This table covers the basics for: Accessory dwelling units (detached fully...

(Printed in the Portland Tribune as "My View: New ideas solve Portland housing needs" on 4/24/14) Why are so many big, bulky new homes popping up in neighborhoods across Portland?  This is a symptom of developers responding to rules put in place a generation ago. As...

  Winter is a great time to dream and scheme about summertime adventures.  Over the past several years, some friends and I have gone on over a dozen of what I call 'Burrito Night Hikes' around Portland, OR.  Here's how they work: Go mid-week, leaving by ~6pm and...

Introduction First time homebuyers are craving better financial models to collectively purchase shared homes or small plexes, especially in markets where home prices are once again climbing.  Although FHA, Freddie Mae and Fannie Mae do a great job of supporting...