Carriage House

We prefer to call it our “carriage house” - or just the “alley house.” The city’s term is “accessory dwelling unit,” but whatever you prefer to name it, this is an example of what may be one of Salida’s greatest, largely-missed opportunities.

Salida is zoned largely R-2. This zoning, in most cases, allows for duplexes and single-family houses with “accessory dwelling units.” Natural Habitats saw this as a tremendous opportunity, as it essentially allows one to build a small house, to be used as guest quarters or a rental, that is detached from the main house. The setback requirements are more relaxed than for a primary residence and the structure can be up to 25’ high, allowing two-story buildings.

The carriage house is a two-story building consisting of an oversized two-car garage with an apartment above. In conformance with city zoning regulations, the upper apartment is limited to 700 square feet of conditioned space. Natural Habitats created an eclectic design to fill this space; its angular design will maximize winter passive solar gain and still allow plenty of ventilation in the summer. The exterior finish will be a mix of stucco, Cortin steel and painted siding. In addition, the space has been roughed-in for future active solar heating and electric systems.

the l details

home address l 434 1/2 W. 3rd Street
square footage l 699
bedrooms / bathrooms l 1/1
garage l oversized, 2-car below
designer l Natural Habitats
general contractor l Natural Habitats
cabinets l maple
kitchen counters l concrete
flooring l bamboo + tile + carpet
windows l low-e
heating/cooling l in-floor hot-water with integrated on-demand water heater
exterior l stucco, Cortin steel, lap siding

sponsor l information

Natural Habitats
Dan Thomas
P.O. Box 745 • Salida, CO 81201
p: 719.539.4481

dthomas@naturalhabitats.biz