Why Can't This Denver Couple Build an ADU for Their Disabled Mom?
It seemed like a simple request to the city: Shawn Johnson and his husband Ben wanted to build an ADU, or accessory dwelling unit, at their Sunnyside home so Shawn’s disabled mother could live close. But little did they know, this plan would send them down a rabbit hole of bureaucracy and bring them face to face with an inconspicuous board that holds a lot of power when it comes to zoning — the city’s main tool for managing our explosive growth. Today, host Bree Davies sits down with Ben and Shawn who say their struggle with the Board of Adjustments for Zoning Appeals reveals a system rooted in implicit bias.
Read the piece by Kathryn White in The Denver North Star that tipped us off to Shawn and Ben’s story!
We have included more of the BOA’s response to our story on Twitter: @CityCastDenver
Subscribe to our newsletter for more news: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/
Subscribe To Our Newsletter
Stay connected to City Cast Denver and get ready to join the local conversation.
Latest Episodes
After the Bandstand Fire, the Key to City Park’s Future Lies in the Past
After City Park’s iconic bandstand was damaged beyond repair in an overnight fire in late March, the park’s neighbors and city leaders ha...
'Your City Could Be Better': Philly's Bold Nightlife Experiment — Presented By City Cast Denver
Denverites, would your city be better if the bars stayed open later? This summer, Philadelphia is anticipating a record-breaking number o...
Big Money in the Governor's Race, Sexual Assault Bill Breaks Through, and Gym Sued for Grunting Noises
New fundraising totals for the governor’s race show Attorney General Phil Weiser’s campaign in the lead over Senator Michael Bennet’s, bu...
What Does Denver Taste Like? Debating Our Claims to Food Fame
Little Man Ice Cream just announced plans to start shipping its beloved sweet treats nationwide, inviting the country to get in on Denver...
How to Lure the DNC to Denver. Plus, Why Workers Were Furloughed from a City-Backed Downtown Project
A delegation of higher-ups from the Democratic Party is in town this week evaluating Denver’s bid to host the DNC in 2028, and Mayor Mike...
BRT Construction vs. Small Businesses, Asia Center Redevelopment Updates, and Little Man Goes National
Construction on the Bus Rapid Transit project on Colfax has officially moved into Aurora, and the end is in sight! So, we are looking ahe...
Conservatives in Colorado Have a Secret Influence Machine. And It Might Be Working.
Democrats in Colorado are expected to retain control of the state legislature, governor’s mansion, and every statewide office this year,...
Who Wants THC Drinks? Plus, Bars Banking on Nostalgia and Our Asian Food Week Recs
It looks like THC-infused drinks won’t be having a moment in Colorado any time soon. A bill to increase levels of THC allowed in beverage...
Your Guide to May 2026 in Denver
It’s May! Here in Denver, that means flowers are blooming, birds are chirping, and the Rockies are losing – but they have not yet been ma...
A New LoDo Let-Out Fix? Plus, REI Boycott Beef and Denver's Surprising Smell Ranking
For decades, the nightclub district in LoDo has been notorious for violence and other unsavory activities going down around 2 a.m. when t...