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Author Archives: kolpeterson
Why Are Permitted ADUs So Rare?
From Washington DC to Vancouver BC to Boston, MA, there are more and more examples in the media of individuals attempting to build and live in smaller dwellings and in more flexible living arrangements. Passive income, multi-generational housing, and other … Continue reading
Finally, A Loan Product That Works for Constructing ADUs
In most markets, financing the construction of ADU’s is notoriously difficult. When constructing an ADU, you need to have all the cash upfront to pay a contractor for the cost of construction. This proves to be a tremendous barrier for … Continue reading
So, You Want to Rent an ADU in Portland…
…well, join the club. Detached ADUs are in short supply, and huge demand. The fact that they are in short supply and high demand should serve as a strong indicator to homeowners and crafty real estate entrepreneurs that there is … Continue reading
Videos from the Build Small | Live Large Housing Summit
Here are a few of the videos from the Build Small | Live Large Summit. For more videos and presentations, check out the conference home page. The quality of the video recordings isn’t great, but the quality of the content presented … Continue reading
Build Small | Live Large Housing – The Beginning of Something Small
On Friday, October 26th, we held an incredible event at Portland State University. It was the first summit of its kind, focusing on space efficient housing. The Build Small | Live Large Housing Summit drew over 300 professionals that have … Continue reading
Staircases in ADUs
When I was designing my ADU with an architect, the stairs presented the most challenging aspect of the whole design. Stairs and their associated components (guardrails, handrails, ceiling, stair treads) are specified in considerable detail in the building code Portland … Continue reading
Two Free Tickets for the Build It Green Tour
For fans of ADUs in Portland, tomorrow is a great chance to see some in person. I have two tickets for tomorrow’s Build it Green tour, which will feature 8 ADUs. If you’d like to go, send me an email … Continue reading
Tiny Dwellings in Portlandia? (video)
The IFC show Portlandia has garned lots of attention in Portland. It even inspired a fan contest in which Portland residents submitted their own ‘Portlandia’ inspired videos. This hilarious video submission showcases one modest attempt at tiny house design. While … Continue reading
Little is Large on Portland’s 2012 Build It Green! Home Tour
The City of Portland’s Build It Green! Home Tour and Info Fair (BIG!) turns eleven this year. BIG! is a self-guided tour of 16 green remodels and new homes around Portland. The Home Preview web page is a great place … Continue reading
A Bike Tour of Accessory Dwelling Units (video)
In June, Portland State University master’s student and Orange Splot intern, Lina Menard, organized a great bike tour of some ADUs in NE Portland. Mark Rainha compiled and edited an 8-minute video of the ADU bike tour. The video includes … Continue reading
