The Fort Wayne City Council gave preliminary approval last week for a tool that could turn long-empty lots into livable homes. The name — “zero lot line” ordinance — may sound new, almost exotic. Yet the idea has been part of urban landscapes for centuries. From rowhouses in Philadelphia to brownstones in New York, the principle of building up to the property line is hardly novel. What’s different today is how Fort Wayne might use it: to fill gaps in neighborhoods and create more flexible housing options.

The concept is straightforward. A house can be built directly along a property line, opening space for another dwelling on the same lot. In practice, that means more townhomes, duplexes and small single-family units that fit into existing neighborhoods.

Senior planner Dave Schaab called

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