Always thinking

I am always on the lookout for new ways to help our towns grow, offering new housing options, in ways that can be woven into our fabric of downtown & corridors.  When I saw this one it captured my imagination.Traveling on my electric bicycle, I braved the wind and unknown terrain to find what is said to be the "oldest suburb" in Copenhagen.  I must admit it was pretty small, but this gem was located right there.  After a bit  more touring I came to understand that the idea of a property being sold as a fee-simple type of single family home is common - and it often includes up to half of the property being offered as a rental unit.  It is kind of like a "duplex" but there were unlike any I have seen in the US.

Considering this was one train stop from the center of Copenhagen - this is a mighty spacious residence.  But as I already gave away - it is actually two homes.  

I did not have a chance to meet the residents so I can only assume that the attached unit was a rental but maybe it was just where the youngest daughter lives after she graduated from college? or where the homeowner's parents stay when they visit or perhaps as they age? or perhaps it offers the income to allow the homeowner to purchase the property? or perhaps it offers the income to re-invest in the property, adding a new kitchen and garden?  Perhaps, many years ago, it was the income that funded the electrical wiring of the property?  So many possibilities!

What if our downtown residential properties had this flexibility? Right now our zoning code will not allow anything like this.