Downsizing, Great Places, Planning News, Small homes

Poulsbo Place

In this Kitsap Sun article, Steven Garner tells about Poulsbo Place, a re-developed housing project in downtown Polsbo, that has been a huge success, especially for empty nesters. The reasons for it’s success?

• Small lots offer just enough space for detached homes that are just the right size and function for empty-nest homeowners. Many have main-floor master bedrooms, and are around 1500 to 1800sf.
• They are in walking distance to picturesque downtown Polsbo, a minor tourist mecca, with a marina and cultural activites.
• Priced right, most under $400,000.

The article goes on to talk about how other towns can provide a place for down-sizing citizens who want to stay in the same town but have less house without going into a stacked-up condo can get the same thing. Polsbo was fortunate in having an area to re-develop. Other towns closer to Seattle, like Kenmore and Burien have similar opportunities in that the Cities own or have control of large peices of land where an entire neighborhood can be created. Burien’s is under construction, Kenmore’s hopes to start soon. The redevelopment of the south parking lot at Northgate is another good example that is underway now.

Unfortunately, these developments have gone for combinations of buildings of flats, and townhouses, not small houses on small lots. It seems the economics of land value make it difficult to do less intense small-lot development too close-in. An MLS search in this areas reveals lots of small houses on small lots, some even single level, located in the ring of suburbs around Seattle, in addition to some redeveloped areas in South and West Seattle.

In established neighborhoods many cities are experimenting with re-zoning to smaller lots, or allowing infill accessory units to be added to back yards.

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