Scott Powers’ ADU: 3 Generations at Home

Scott Powers’ ADU

Quick Facts

• Setting: urban
• Neighborhood: Rose City Park, Portland, OR
• Type: stand-alone detached unit
• Use: full-time residence
• Square Footage: 800
• Year Built: 2011
• Owners: Scott Powers & Meg O’Brien
• Total Cost: $150,000

“We didn’t want to put our parents in assisted living. We wanted them to be independent, but still close to family.” – Scott Powers

When their two children were little, Scott Powers and Meg O’Brien felt fortunate to have Scott’s parents living just five blocks away. So as his father’s 80th birthday approached, Scott began considering next steps that would allow his parents to remain in the Rose City Park neighborhood and retain their independence. When he learned about other families who had used ADUs to create flexible housing options, Scott and Meg began researching and visiting ADUs.

Scott’s ADU matches the main house and it’s tucked into the backyard behind a garden gate

The family brought an architect on board to help them design a home that would meet Portland’s ADU design guidelines, which require that the ADU have the same look as the existing house. Scott notes that they probably would have wanted the ADU to match the main house, even if the requirement were not in place. There were ultimately conflicts with the architect, so the family bought the design and continued their work with a contractor. Meeting their parents’ needs was the primary design consideration and they decided to build an 800 square foot ADU, the largest ADU allowed in Portland.

“I grew up in a 3,000 square foot house, so I wanted to make sure this 800 square foot house wouldn’t be too small for them.” – Scott

hardscaping and plantings create a transition zone between Scott Powers’ main house and the ADU

They knew that transitioning to the smaller space would present some challenges. The family worked around them by storing some of their parents’ belongings in the basement of the main house. This enabled them to focus on creating a home that would suit the occupants’ needs and desires. It was, for instance, important that there be two bedrooms so that Scott’s dad could have a “man cave” where he could listen to music. They determined that if Scott and Meg tore down their garage there would be just enough room within the required setbacks for a two-story 800 square foot ADU. 

“We had to do 5 foot setbacks [from the property lines] and we didn’t want to go through waivers, so that’s why the ADU is so close to the house. When it was going up we were like, ‘oh my, that’s so close!'” – Scott Powers

However, they installed double-paned windows and blown-in foam insulation, so the ADU is very air-tight, which also prevents sound transfer. The family also worked with a landscaper to install hardscaping and plantings. They are now quite pleased with the outside space that provides a transition zone between the main house where Scott and Meg live with their two children and the ADU where his parents live.

“Now it’s a pretty continuous back and forth between the two houses!” – Scott Powers

high-end cabinetry and an on-demand water heater make Scott Power’s ADU feel luxurious

Proximity allows the three generations of Scott’s family to share meals and trips to the grocery store. Their children are now teenagers, so childcare is not as important anymore, but it’s still nice having grandma and grandpa close by. Scott’s parents pay utilities but no rent because they paid for the ADU in cash after selling their home nearby. They used high-end cabinetry and finishes, an on-demand water heater, and Scott’s favorite feature, a gas fireplace, to make the ADU feel cozy. Scott jokes “the ADU is nicer than our house!”

In fact, Scott’s only concern about the ADU is that the investment the family made, and the value that it adds, might not be recognized if they sell their property someday. (You can read more about Understanding and Appraising Properties with Accessory Dwelling Units.) Fortunately, Scott’s family has no immediate plans to move. The ADU has created flexibility for their future.

“If we were to stay here long-term and my parents were to move on or pass, Meg and I have talked about living in the ADU, renting it out, or having one of our kids living there. It’s nice having those options.” – Scott Powers

About linamenard

Hi. My name is Lina Menard and I'm a small house dweller, designer, blogger, and builder. I'm currently collecting ADU Case Studies for AccessoryDwellings.org. Through my company Niche Consulting LLC, I help people design and build the home (and life) of their dreams! I also tell my stories about simple living in small spaces - like a travel trailer, a yurt, a backyard cottage, and tiny houses on wheels - at Niche News.

View all posts by linamenard →