Thank you to the Eugene City Council for their long-overdue passage of the backyard cottage code, finally bringing Eugene into compliance with state statute. We have an affordable housing crisis, and this will certainly not solve it, but it’s a tiny positive step forward. In addition:
Accessory Dwelling Units are a tool in the fight against climate change: The compact size of ADUs makes them remarkably energy-efficient, cutting lifetime CO2 emissions by as much as 40 percent when compared with the US-average single-family homes.
Small homes are greener. A 2010 Oregon DEQ report found that over its lifespan a U.S.-average (2,300 sf) new single-family home is responsible for nearly 60 percent more emissions than a home half its size.
ADUs provide more access to affordable housing. According to a Portland State University study, more than half of all ADUs in Portland rent for less than the average rent of the city’s one-bedroom apartments.
ADUs create affordable housing and help slow urban sprawl. ADUs allow us to modestly increase the housing stock without drastically altering the neighborhoods that surround them, offering affordable housing for lower-income renters and younger people dealing with a tough labor market, or allowing older people to age-in-place by downsizing to a separate, more accessible home on their property.
The bottom line is that ADUs are good for the community, for Eugene, for seniors and for the environment.
Jan Fillinger, AIA
Eugene
A Note From the Publisher
Dear Readers,
The last two years have been some of the hardest in Eugene Weekly’s 43 years. There were moments when keeping the paper alive felt uncertain. And yet, here we are — still publishing, still investigating, still showing up every week.
That’s because of you!
Not just because of financial support (though that matters enormously), but because of the emails, notes, conversations, encouragement and ideas you shared along the way. You reminded us why this paper exists and who it’s for.
Listening to readers has always been at the heart of Eugene Weekly. This year, that meant launching our popular weekly Activist Alert column, after many of you told us there was no single, reliable place to find information about rallies, meetings and ways to get involved. You asked. We responded.
We’ve also continued to deepen the coverage that sets Eugene Weekly apart, including our in-depth reporting on local real estate development through Bricks & Mortar — digging into what’s being built, who’s behind it and how those decisions shape our community.
And, of course, we’ve continued to bring you the stories and features many of you depend on: investigations and local government reporting, arts and culture coverage, sudoku and crossword puzzles, Savage Love, and our extensive community events calendar. We feature award-winning stories by University of Oregon student reporters getting real world journalism experience. All free. In print and online.
None of this happens by accident. It happens because readers step up and say: this matters.
As we head into a new year, please consider supporting Eugene Weekly if you’re able. Every dollar helps keep us digging, questioning, celebrating — and yes, occasionally annoying exactly the right people. We consider that a public service.
Thank you for standing with us!
Publisher
Eugene Weekly
P.S. If you’d like to talk about supporting EW, I’d love to hear from you!
jody@eugeneweekly.com
(541) 484-0519
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