Neighborhood Workshop

I welcome any feedback

6/6

Specifically: a neighborhood serving commercial use that is subordinate to a residential principal use and occupies no more than 10 percent of the floor area of the story on which it is located, in accordance with IBC Section 508.2 (Accessory Occupancy).

5/6

In buildings with 5 to 20 dwelling units, an ACU is limited to internal or attached locations and must meet the definition of accessory occupancy per the International Building Code.

4/6

This threshold aligns with FHA residential loan standards for 1 to 4 unit properties that include non residential space. ACUs in this category are typically not home based businesses but are distinct, dedicated commercial spaces.

3/6

In buildings with 1 to 4 dwelling units, an ACU may be internal, attached, or detached, and is limited to no more than 49 percent of the total gross floor area of the building.

2/6

Definition: Accessory Commercial Unit (ACU)
An Accessory Commercial Unit (ACU) is a low intensity commercial use that is subordinate to a residential principal use, designed to support small scale, local economic activity.

1/6

If cities want more neighborhood scale commerce without rezoning whole corridors, ACUs (accessory commercial units) are the cleanest path forward. I provide a working definition below.

Affordable townhomes bring first-time home buyers to ‘Portland’s great neighborhoods’ The new multi-family housing wasn’t legal until recently.

Thrilled to see the built results of my modeling policy efforts from years back. I modeled an affordability bonus for the City of Portland’ low-density zones that allowed up to six units of some were affordable. At the time it was the most liberalized low-density policy in the country.

How Minimum Lot Size Requirements Maximize the Housing Crisis Allowing housing units to be built on small or irregular lots is a gamechanger for cities that are fighting the housing crisis. Here’s why that allowance is so important and how three developers are u...

I had fun showcasing my developer friends’ projects while discussing the impacts of zoning correctives here in Portland.

www.strongtowns.org/journal/2024...

Thank you. Super helpful.

Sorry to hear. But it looks like she got to go on some great adventures. My redbone pulled on the leash the exact same way. A familiar sight!

Is that Redbone you got with you?

This location is called Toroweap. Accesible by a 40+ mile dirt road. No crowds.

Sure, though I also like testing my Spanish language abilities.

First post:
I post a lot about ACUs - Accessory Commercial Units. Small neighborhood serving retail buildings in front of residential buildings.

ACUs keep it local and make it walkable. If you see one in your town, send me a photo and location.

Yes, we’ve been calling them ACUs - Accessory Commercial Units. I’ve been consulting on how to bring them back.