Free new guide: The ABCs of ADUs
Over the past year, I’ve been working with AARP to research and write “The ABCs of ADUs – A guide to Accessory Dwelling Units – and how they expand options … Continue reading
St. Paul’s first ADU goes up
Over the course of a recent Saturday afternoon open house, more than 40 neighbors, friends and family stopped in to see a new apartment on Sherburne Avenue in the Hamline-Midway neighborhood and congratulate the owners, Eric and Chrissi Larsen, on its completion. This wasn’t just any apartment — it was the first accessory-dwelling unit to be built under St. Paul’s 2016 accessory-dwelling-unit ordinance.
Accessory Dwelling Units: A Tale of Two Cities
Guest post by Mark Thieroff from St. Paul, MN
About five years ago, interest in accessory dwelling units had reached a critical mass in Minneapolis and St. Paul. ADUs were seen by proponents as a way to increase housing diversity and flexibility and add density in residential neighborhoods. But Minneapolis and St. Paul ended up taking very different approaches and, consequently, have seen markedly different results.
Nov. 3-5: Build Small LIVE LARGE summit in Portland, OR
The 2017 Build Small Live Large Summit focuses on accessory dwelling unit (ADU) development, and how these small homes built in backyards, attics and basements can offer solutions to steeply … Continue reading
Portland extends System Development Charge waiver on ADUs by 2 years
Portland’s City Council just extended the waiver of systems development charges on accessory dwelling units for 2 additional years. Here’s a link to the exact language of the ordinance. After … Continue reading
AccessoryDwellings.org Wants Your Contributions
Do you love ADUs as much as we do? Got an ADU story or insight to share? Then contribute an ADU post to the readership of this blog (over 50,000 … Continue reading
Save the Date for the 2015 Build Small Live Large Summit: Friday, Nov. 6!
Conference is Sold Out! The Build Small Live Large Summit is back by popular demand! This unique, one-day event will convene leading small home designers, builders, developers, realtors and policy … Continue reading
Model Code for Accessory Dwelling Units
Practically every week, we learn of a new US city or county that is adopting or revisiting zoning code language on accessory dwelling units (ADUs). Some are thinking of allowing … Continue reading
ADUs and Condos: Separating Ownership
Q. How is it that the accessory dwelling unit pictured below is being sold separately from the primary home on the same lot? A. It’s legally structured as a condominium. … Continue reading
Stradivarius violins and cigar box guitars (Making sense of ADU construction costs)
An experienced developer explains why ADUs have such a wide range of costs, and how to estimate costs for your own project.
La Cabina Urbana
Inconspicuous as any other garage, this ADU is an inspiration to me. While it was built as an unpermitted ADU, like 2/3rds to 3/4ths of Portland’s ADUs, it functions like … Continue reading
Sabin Green – A community of 2 ADUs and 2 modest homes
Back in 2005, I was trying to figure out how to create affordable home ownership opportunities without public subsidies in a strong housing market. With a background in affordable housing … Continue reading
Discreet Density
Skinny homes on 25’ wide lots. New apartment buildings without off-street parking. Bulky 2,500+ sq. ft. ‘traditional craftsman’ homes popping up all over the inner-east side. These are Portland’s most … Continue reading
Portland extends waiver of SDCs on Accessory Dwelling Units
(Editors note- for the most recent SDC waiver information, read this post. 4/2016) Great News! This afternoon, Portland’s City Council voted unanimously to extend the waiver of Systems Development Charges … Continue reading
Portland small home survey
Attention: If you are seeking the Oregon DEQ, Metro, and accessorydwellings.org survey being conducted in June, 2013, please visit http://adusurvey.org/ From garage lofts, to backyard cottages, to yurts, to cute … Continue reading
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