BELLEVILLE, IL (KMOX) - Some Metro East communities are rebuffing fears that smaller homes aren't as big of a benefit. Ron Deedrick, Local Government Affairs Director with Illinois Realtors gives the example of Belleville recently reversing building and rehab restrictions for homes under a thousand square feet. "You ultimately give those property owners, those developers, those housing providers, more options for what they can do on their property because they're not creating more land. So since we're not creating more land, what we have to do is figure out how we get more creative within the boundaries that currently exist."
Deedrick says providing for smaller homes opens doors for infill housing for narrow city lots.
He also tells KMOX it paves the way for homeowners to build what are called ADU's, or Accessory Dwelling Units. Those are often small in-law suites on the same property as existing single-family homes. Deedrick points out, that ultimately increases property values.
@2026 Audacy St. Louis (KMOX). All rights reserved.
