Minneapolis - Rezone lot to include mother-in-law apt

[west336]

What kind of rent would a carriage house demand? Total rent and cost/SF?? I realize there may be a premium to live in somebody's backyard and I wonder if it's too costly for most people to consider.

[Camden Northsider]

Originally Posted by west336

What kind of rent would a carriage house demand? Total rent and cost/SF?? I realize there may be a premium to live in somebody's backyard and I wonder if it's too costly for most people to consider.

I doubt it, but this would all depend on the area it's in and what the homeowner is asking. A carriage house in Kenwood or on Summit Ave would likely carry a big price tag, but otherwise it would just be like renting part of a duplex or someone's house IMO, with a bonus of being able to have your own house-like structure and likely a decent lot shared by you and just one other family (likely in a single family area). I would have done it back when I was a renter, but I don't think they are all too common.

My BIL was once seriously considering purchasing a carriage house (on a lot that had been rezoned) in the Summit/Grand area- it previously belonged to one of the mansions in the area, was a significantly large structure, and had been completely overhauled/redone with not a lot of expense spared (I believe it was a 2/2). I can't remember the exact asking price but I know it was at least $200K if not a fair amount more.

Also- to Slig- I guess a question I would have is whether you need to rezone your lot if you were actually planning on a parent living in it? I suppose if you want to rent it down the road you wouldn't want your property considered 'single-family', but if it is a family member living there you could just say it's an office area/addtl sq ftage above the garage I suppose.

[Cruz Azul Guy]

Originally Posted by Camden Northsider

Also- to Slig- I guess a question I would have is whether you need to rezone your lot if you were actually planning on a parent living in it? I suppose if you want to rent it down the road you wouldn't want your property considered 'single-family', but if it is a family member living there you could just say it's an office area/addtl sq ftage above the garage I suppose.

Yes, that would be the primary reason but I'd want it to be set up where I'd have the option to rent it out because I'm not sure how permanent this arrangement would be. That does raise another question though on whether or not that would change the zoning of the property though.

[uptown_urbanist]

I'm certainly no expert, but I believe that if you add electricity and plumbing (I think it's mostly the plumbing) and therefore make it a complete separate living unit -- whether or not your current tenant is someone in the family or not -- the city let you build it unless they've given you the variance that would make it legal to have the two units. That's separate from the rental license, and FYI, you're still required to have a rental license if renting to someone in the family. (You don't, however, have to pay the hefty rental fee that a commercial landlord has to pay; if it's in the family you just pay for a basic inspection and the license, which runs around $65 or something. I believe it's a newish rule, and is designed to make sure that family members still are living in safe housing that meets modern codes.) In any case, I'm pretty sure they won't allow you to put in a full kitchen or bath unless you get the variance. They don't want to make it easy for you or for any future owner to illegally use it as a separate apartment.

If you call 311 they can help answer some basic questions and direct you to the right person. They can at least confirm both your current zoning as well as let you know if there's any possible upcoming changes. I think they added the Phillips accessory dwelling overlay district (or whatever it's officially called) to coincide with the opening of the LRT line, as the goal was to increase affordable housing options, especially along the transit line. Does your neighborhood have a master plan? When the time comes to research this more, I'd see what they have to say about it. I know the CARAG Master Plan supports them, and while that document is not, of course, binding, it's useful to have that kind of formal backing when you're approaching the city. And again, in theory the city is very supportive of this kind of building, so with luck when the time comes you'll be able to sail through the variance process.

[west336]

Why don't you just call the city and see what info. you can gather?