Garage apartments win OK in Southeast Seattle

Garage apartments are coming to Southeast Seattle, but that doesn't mean they'll be legal in other parts of the city soon.

The City Council voted 8-1 Monday to allow homeowners to build the apartments in garages, old servants' quarters or brand-new structures — as long as they are detached from the main house on the lot. Councilman Richard McIver voted no.

Council members stressed they approved the plan for Southeast Seattle because community leaders there want backyard apartments, viewing them as a way to provide affordable housing, keep families together and help homeowners hold on to their houses in tough financial times.

The Southeast District Council, an umbrella group that represents 25 community organizations, voted unanimously to support the proposal, saying in a letter to the council it could be a "culturally appropriate solution for many of SE Seattle's large families who would like or need to provide accommodations for grandparents and other extended family members."

Southeast Seattle is the most diverse part of the city, with large immigrant, Asian and African-American populations. A few neighborhood activists outside Southeast Seattle have said they'd like backyard apartments to be allowed in their communities as well.

While the city's Planning Commission hopes such apartments will spread citywide, council members said that wouldn't happen unless other neighborhoods clamor for them.

"This is not being foisted on Southeast. We wouldn't be doing it if we hadn't heard from strong voices for Southeast. If other communities proposed them, we'd consider it," said Councilman Peter Steinbrueck, who heads the council's Urban Development and Planning Committee.

Under rules approved by the council, the structures can be no taller than 23 feet, can have no more than 800 feet of living space and can't be built on lots smaller than 4,000 square feet.

The property owner must live on the lot, in the house or the apartment, and must supply one off-street parking space for the apartment. The council set the maximum fine for an illegal apartment at $5,000.

The number of new backyard apartments will be tracked annually, as will any enforcement concerns.

Southeast Seattle homeowners will build about 10 detached apartments a year, city planners estimate.

Some neighborhood activists and homeowners oppose the apartments, fearing parking, traffic and noise problems. Several opponents told council members horror stories of illegal backyard apartments occupied by rowdy residents and owned by absentee landlords.

But the Southeast District Council said its concerns about parking, absentee owners and size of the structures were addressed by the council's plan.

Bob Young: 206-464-2174 or byoung@seattletimes.com