🏡 (10/1/25 event) Accessory Dwelling Units:Insights & Strategies for Successful Implementation!

[Winter2025VA]

THIS WEDNESDAY, Oct 1, 2025.

Join us for insight on how cities implement Accessory Dwelling Units, or ADUs—a housing unit on a single-family lot with an existing residence—to create affordable housing.

➡️[*** About the Event!

Communities are evolving and so are their housing needs.

For people who want to stay put or return to places they consider home, Accessory Dwelling Units, or ADUs are integral to providing more diverse, attainable housing, and it’s a smart strategy for thoughtful community planning.

Join speakers from AARP Ohio and Opticos Design and Columbus City Council leaders in the Missing Middle Housing movement, who will focus on what cities need to consider when updating zoning law, offering construction incentives, and building public and political support.

Hear practical insights and lessons learned from experts who’ve helped cities across the country make ADUs possible.

Whether you're a policymaker, citizen, planner, developer or housing advocate, bring your questions for a Q&A segment and join the conversation on how ADUs can positively transform housing in your community.

➡️[*** How to Join.

Sign in to your AARP.org account or create an account to register for events. AARP membership not required. You’ll receive an email with the Zoom link before the session.

TIME - 3:00 p.m. ET • 2:00 p.m. CT • 1:00 p.m. MT • 12:00 p.m. PT.

Duration: 60 Minutes.

Zoom - Free Online Event.

USE LINK BELOW FOR MORE INFORMATION & TO REGISTER.

https://local.aarp.org/vcc-event/transforming-communities-affordable-housing-q4ndztlss6q.html

[Winter2025VA]

[9/29/25] Anyone have one or interested in them?

I have had an interest for years but the cost was a stumbling block.

[GailL1]

This concept for affordable housing confuses me - 

1.  who exactly would this type of affordable housing - the Accessory Dwelling Unit - be for?  I mean if it is for housing a family member - that is one thing.  But if it is a concept to increase the number of units available then doesn’t that mean that it is a rental unit?  If a rental unit, why would this be anymore affordable than what is the current market based rent in the area?  Maybe even higher because of the type. 

2.  Seems if this is a possible solution to some affordability problem - which I sm not sure that it is - then it seems rather than going to all the trouble of building, just moving a trailer to the spot would even be more economical.

3.  Some density zoning requirement are not always local in their source - they could be federal - I know where I live, where everybody has to have at least (3) acres to build a house of any size, this is an environmental restriction because of protecting our water source.  The US Corps of Engineers are the ones that have set this measure for a certain number of square miles around such a community water source.  It isn’t just homes, it is also businesses - because the main purpose here is to limit the amount of impervious surface.  Not a lot of people want to live in a place where they have to travel so far just for the items that they need.  

4.  Building cost are gonna be the same, if not more, depending on where the lot for the ADU is located.  Many jurisdictions charge an extra penny for large trucks to make deliveries of things like building supplies to an inner-city location or the place cannot accept large trucks at all and they have to be placed on transport vehicles that can accommodate narrow streets with low hanging tree branches and even stop lights.

5.  If this is just a way to increase the number of housing units in an area, then it seems to me that the owners/builders of such a property would want to cash in on it - i.e. the rental amount.  If demand for housing is high as it would be for this type of housing to be considered instead of the single family home concept, then why would the rental amount be anything but what the market will bear.

6.  Then there is the problem of those who occupy the ADU holding their own if the unit is anything other than a glorified mother-in-law suite - each of the housing units on the property would have to have things like garbage pick up.  Perhaps extra cost for landscape maintenance,

I guess I just don’t see the “affordability” of such housing units - to me, all that is gonna happen is making an area even more packed than it already might be.  

I’m with you, @Winter2025VA, I do not see this as a solution to our housing crisis, especially, the “affordable” type.

[Winter2025VA]

[9/30/25]

Hi Gail @GailL1 , this response will be based on me and what I have found out.

As stated before to you, my area in Virginia has PLENTY of resources for the homeless. In fact I had told you about my 13 month stay at the Rescue Mission.

What happens in MY AREA is that some folks DO NOT want to OBEY the rules at the Rescue Mission or submit 75 percent of their paycheck to be SAVED for them when they leave.

Those are the ONLY homeless we have in OUR AREA.

Lol, even the homeless dogs are taken care of. I have NEVER seen one. Just the random cat as apparently they tend to "outsmart" Animal Control.

Anyway, back to ADU's.

I may be wrong, but there is a difference in the concept.

For example, back in Florida when I had looked into them - people had them on their property as Rental Revenue.

Yes, Snowbird Season brings in ALOT of dollars for Florida = short term rentals, Thanksgiving to Easter.

Now that has CHANGED with all the changes in Florida which I am NOT going to mention as politics are involved & I am respecting AARP's no politics rule. But you know the changes I am referring to.

Bottom line Gail, everyone builds or rents a ADU for whatever need they have.

Back then, it was a QUIET and small option for me. Now NOT all will be quiet, but that was a priority for me & still is.

Pricing gets interesting depending on location of the ADU. Back then I wanted one in St. Cloud, Florida. A very popular area.

At age 67, not sure I want to live in one but hey, IF my daughter wants to put one in her backyard - I am game.

Take care,

Nicole!

➡️[*** GAIL 

---

@GailL1 wrote:

This concept for affordable housing confuses me - 

1.  who exactly would this type of affordable housing - the Accessory Dwelling Unit - be for?  I mean if it is for housing a family member - that is one thing.  But if it is a concept to increase the number of units available then doesn’t that mean that it is a rental unit?  If a rental unit, why would this be anymore affordable than what is the current market based rent in the area?  Maybe even higher because of the type. 

2.  Seems if this is a possible solution to some affordability problem - which I sm not sure that it is - then it seems rather than going to all the trouble of building, just moving a trailer to the spot would even be more economical.

3.  Some density zoning requirement are not always local in their source - they could be federal - I know where I live, where everybody has to have at least (3) acres to build a house of any size, this is an environmental restriction because of protecting our water source.  The US Corps of Engineers are the ones that have set this measure for a certain number of square miles around such a community water source.  It isn’t just homes, it is also businesses - because the main purpose here is to limit the amount of impervious surface.  Not a lot of people want to live in a place where they have to travel so far just for the items that they need.  

4.  Building cost are gonna be the same, if not more, depending on where the lot for the ADU is located.  Many jurisdictions charge an extra penny for large trucks to make deliveries of things like building supplies to an inner-city location or the place cannot accept large trucks at all and they have to be placed on transport vehicles that can accommodate narrow streets with low hanging tree branches and even stop lights.

5.  If this is just a way to increase the number of housing units in an area, then it seems to me that the owners/builders of such a property would want to cash in on it - i.e. the rental amount.  If demand for housing is high as it would be for this type of housing to be considered instead of the single family home concept, then why would the rental amount be anything but what the market will bear.

6.  Then there is the problem of those who occupy the ADU holding their own if the unit is anything other than a glorified mother-in-law suite - each of the housing units on the property would have to have things like garbage pick up.  Perhaps extra cost for landscape maintenance,

I guess I just don’t see the “affordability” of such housing units - to me, all that is gonna happen is making an area even more packed than it already might be.  

I’m with you, @Winter2025VA, I do not see this as a solution to our housing crisis, especially, the “affordable” type.

---

[GailL1]

@Winter2025VA 

Not quite sure about the “homeless” meaning part of your post  but I think the only way that an ADU is gonna really be affordable more than any other housing is for it to be supplied by family for family and the major part of the expense is absorbed by the family providing it.

Otherwise, It is just a rental unit.

They have long been a concept in college/university towns but as rental units.  As Rental units, I just don’t see them as being anymore affordable that any other place - maybe even more expensive because of the ambiance; well at least for me and you, two that don’t like up and down neighbors.  

[Winter2025VA]

[9/30/25]

Hi Gail @GailL1 , what I was saying was that in MY AREA, they are NOT viewed as being built to solve the Housing Crisis that some states do like California. We have "safety nets" for folks who need it (housing assistance). Other locations may need the Affordable Housing & yes, ADU's may NOT be the way to go.

Apologies for the confusion.

MY AREA, they are rental properties.

My interest in them was years ago in Florida.

Now in Virginia, I am happy in my VERY CUTE Studio Apt in the mountains of Virginia.

Take care,

Nicole!

➡️[*** GAIL 

---

@GailL1 wrote:

@Winter2025VA 

Not quite sure about the “homeless” meaning part of your post  but I think the only way that an ADU is gonna really be affordable more than any other housing is for it to be supplied by family for family and the major part of the expense is absorbed by the family providing it.

Otherwise, It is just a rental unit.

They have long been a concept in college/university towns but as rental units.  As Rental units, I just don’t see them as being anymore affordable that any other place - maybe even more expensive because of the ambiance; well at least for me and you, two that don’t like up and down neighbors. 

---