Jacksonville’s City Councilmember Rory Diamond introduces ‘Keep Our Families Together Act’

Jacksonville —

City Councilman Rory Diamond introduces “Keep Our Families Together Act” to help alleviate Jacksonville’s housing crisis. The legislation allows people to build ‘Accessory Dwelling Units’ (ADU)’s secondary housing units on an already existing single family lot.

Sponsored by Council members Michael Boylan, Reggie Gaffney, Garrett Dennis and Randy White, legalizing the building of ADU’s will allow the construction of up to 100,000 new housing units - “separate, small structures on properties containing fully habitable or rentable housing units.” The plan proposes to relieve pressure from Jacksonville’s rising inflation costs and Jacksonville’s housing crisis.

“Accessory Dwelling Units have been very popular across the country,” said Diamond. “Everyone is in a housing crises. But Jacksonville’s going to be in the forefront of stepping in and saying,’Yes, we’re going to do this.’”

Diamond described the small, rentable units as a good economic stimulus for Jacksonville as it could bring up to 100,000 new units into the City.

“This should lower the rent costs for people having trouble making their rent payments,” he continued. “This bill will make it easier to afford a home by renting the unit to help pay your mortgage.”

Diamond added that the bill will also help to keep families together.

“Accessory dwelling units are the strongest and most immediate way to address our affordable housing crisis and to keep our families together,” he concluded.

The measure was introduced to the Jacksonville City Council in June of this year. Bill No. 2022-448 now begins the Committee process and will most likely be voted into law on Tuesday, August 9.

©2022 Cox Media Group