Latest news with #AccessoryDwellingUnits
CBS News
28-05-2025
- Business
- CBS News
What is an Accessory Dwelling Unit? The backyard homes may help the housing crisis in Mass.
Big problems don't always need big solutions. In Massachusetts, one of the answers to our housing crisis might be hiding in the backyard. They're called Accessory Dwelling Units, or ADUs for short. Think of them as pint-sized homes, built on the same lot as an existing home. Once upon a time, these little homes were locked down by zoning rules, you could build one, but only if a relative was moving in. Renting to anyone else? Off limits. But now, building an ADU has become much easier. For Linda and Mark Adler of Lexington, the solution to their own personal housing crunch didn't just fall from the sky, but it did get slowly lowered from above. New homes in backyard Their new ADU was delivered in a couple massive prefab pieces. A crane gently set them down in the side yard. Just like that, they had a brand-new two-bedroom, two-bath home. Part of an Accessory Dwelling Unit lifted into place with a crane. CBS Boston "Two big pieces, on two flatbed trucks and an enormous crane lifting both pieces over our existing house," said Mark. "Which was a little scary." The Adlers added the ADU when their daughter and grandkids moved in. Now, they're living just steps apart, with much more room to breathe. "For us it was an affordable solution to being close, but giving everybody space," said Linda. About 30 miles away in Northboro, Marsha Gleason built her own ADU in the backyard of the house she once shared with her late husband. "My new home is just perfect for me," she said. "It has allowed me to stay in my neighborhood." Accessory Dwelling Unit in Northboro, Massachusetts. CBS Boston Now, her son and daughter-in-law live in the main house. Marsha's 800-square-foot home is filled with her artwork — and she still hosts her friends and the occasional sleepover for her grandkids. "I've had groups here," she said. "I can still entertain." No more special permits Until recently, ADUs were nearly impossible to build in many Massachusetts towns, thanks to zoning restrictions and red tape. But that changed last year with the Affordable Homes Act. What's new? Well, there are no more special "ADU permits." No more rules about ADU's being for "relatives only." Now, you can build an ADU that's up to 900 sq ft in size. It can be inside an existing home, attached, or completely separate, as long as it has its own entrance. You can rent out an ADU. "We had a patchwork of regulations across Massachusetts," said Ed Augustus, Secretary of Housing and Livable Communities. "Now, ADUs are one way we're tackling the housing crisis." Augustus estimates 8,000 to 10,000 ADUs will be built in the next five years. But that's just the start. The state says Massachusetts needs about 200,000 new housing units over the next decade to truly get ahead of the crisis. ADUs are just one piece of the solution. Before you start sketching your backyard floor plan, a few caveats: Property taxes may go up. Adding an ADU increases the value of your property, and likely your tax bill. Towns can still pass rules banning ADUs from being used as Airbnbs or other short-term stays. You'll need to follow setback rules and other basics, even under the new law. How much do ADUs cost? Chris Lee runs Backyard ADUs, a company that builds these units off-site and installs them in a matter of months. His average turnkey price: around $300,000. They can run as much as $500,000. But the new laws are making ADU's more popular. "It's getting easier," Lee said. "Vermont was the first state in New England, Maine followed, Rhode Island followed, Mass. followed and now New Hampshire just followed. Basically New England is catching up with the West Coast." For some families, these small homes are delivering a big solution. For them, an ADU is A-OK. For more information on the state's new rules on ADUs visit If you have a question you'd like us to look into, please email questioneverything@
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
A new park, homeowner loans and other takeaways from Tosa's 'State of the City' address
Wauwatosa residents, business owners, developers, and nonprofit leaders filled Hart Park's Muellner Building on the evening of April 23 to hear the mayor and city staff deliver the first "State of the City" address. Under the historic building's newly revealed "barrel" wooden ceiling, leaders shared the latest on a new park, homeowner loans, city funding challenges and public health initiatives. Here are four takeaways from the evening. Wauwatosa's Public Works Department has had no shortage of projects over the last few years. The department completed the Muellner Building's renovation, oversees street construction, and has added solar paneling to many more city buildings, Public Works Director Dave Simpson told attendees. But perhaps the most anticipated project nearing completion is a new $4 million city park, the first ever on the city's west side. Firefly Grove Park, at North 116th Street and West Gilbert Avenue, will open Wednesday, May 28. It will include walking trails, a sledding hill, a playground, a pavilion and a sculpture garden. It'll also be the home to a giant troll by recycling artist Thomas Dambo, Wauwatosa Tourism Specialist Beth Gleesing told the audience. More information is coming soon on how volunteers can get involved in the building process, she said. A bike pump track, estimated to be completed in July, is another highly-anticipated amenity at the park. A pump track is a looped circuit path, often made out of asphalt or dirt, for cyclists, people on scooters and skateboarders to enjoy. The park was paid for without taxpayer dollars and completely through grants, including American Rescue Act funds. Mark Hammond, Wauwatosa's development director, talked about two city programs that provide financial incentives for eligible homeowners looking to improve their properties. The Housing Rehabilitation Program offers zero-interest loans for low- to moderate-income residents looking to improve things like accessibility, plumbing, electrical or windows in their home. Wauwatosa residents can contact 414-479-8933 or email HomeRepair@ to get in touch with a rehabilitation specialist. Another program offers a limited number of forgivable loans for homeowners who want to build Accessory Dwelling Units, or ADUs. These are additional living spaces that act like a backyard apartment. ADUs can generate rental income for homeowners and add to the city's housing stock without drastically changing the look of a neighborhood, Hammond told the crowd. The loans are offered on a first come first served basis. For details on design requirements, residents should submit the ADU interest form online or contact the Wauwatosa's Planning Division at 414-479-3522 to setup a consultation. Hammond also described how the city is trying to strike a balance between developing needed affordable housing, investing in business corridors and building in a land-locked community. The city's plans at Mayfair Mall to bring new apartments and replace the former Boston store with Scheels Sporting Goods is an example of adding "density where it makes sense," he said. About 43% of adults over the age of 65 report feeling lonely, according to Wauwatosa Health Department Officer and Director Laura Stephens. That's why the department has focused many mental health efforts on social connection, particularly with an intergenerational approach. Tosa Tech Time is a Wauwatosa Health Department program that empowers young people to help seniors learn to use their cell phones and other technology. Through regular meetings, the program has helped seniors connect glucose monitors to their phone, log into their online medical accounts and message or call friends and family, Stephens said. Other health department programs focus on harm reduction, short-term rental checks, sexual health education, and reviews of reports of animal issues in the community. More information can be found online at the health department website. Additionally, a trained police officer and behavioral health clinician are now responding to crisis calls Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. When available, the Wauwatosa Crisis Assessment Response Team is dispatched by contacting 911 or the Wauwatosa non-emergency line at 414-471-8430 and asking for the CART responders. In closing, Wauwatosa Mayor Dennis McBride said that Wauwatosa is strong, but like other cities, it's had to tighten the belt on spending in recent budgets in the face of levy limits and low amounts of state aid that come through shared revenue. Roughly 2% of Wauwatosa's total revenue comes from state shared revenue, according to McBride. That leaves communities limited in ways to generate revenue, relying heavily on net-new construction, which can only go so far in municipalities like Wauwatosa which has little undeveloped land. Wauwatosa hasn't had to cut city services or staff yet like Brookfield may have to do after a taxpayer referendum failed, McBride said. But "the threat and possibility are always with us" as the city approaches a fiscal cliff, he told the crowd. McBride called on attendees at the State of the City address to reach out to their legislators in Madison to revise how the state structures municipal finances. "This is not a partisan issue," he said. McBride ended the evening asking residents to consider running for local office. The spring 2026 election on Tuesday, April 6 will include Wauwatosa aldermanic seats and a race for Wauwatosa municipal judge. Contact the reporter at bfogarty@ This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Here are 4 takeaways from Wauwatosa's 'State of the City' address
Boston Globe
14-04-2025
- Business
- Boston Globe
How Dwelly is making eco-friendly ‘granny flats' affordable in New England
Advertisement Jillian Rene 'J.R.' Coffin (left) is the founder of Dwelly, a Rhode Island-based startup whose primary focus is to grow New England's housing stock through the construction of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), which are also often called 'tiny homes' or 'granny flats.' DWELLY Q: How does Dwelly fit into your own background? I'm an architect by trade focusing mainly on multi-family developments. Working in the design and construction industry I've always felt it was my responsibility as an architect to guide people to make sustainable decisions. Get Rhode Map A weekday briefing from veteran Rhode Island reporters, focused on the things that matter most in the Ocean State. Enter Email Sign Up Once I launched my own firm, initially called Studio Den Den, and shifted my focus from high-rises to small multi-family and single-family projects, I noticed a growing demand for flexible, smarter housing. People loved the idea of ADUs, but they kept running into obstacles. Either the permitting process was overwhelming, architects were too expensive, construction costs were unpredictable, or they just didn't know where to start. I started Dwelly because I wanted to help more people and I knew there had to be a better way. So I started creating an architectural construction documents package that was replicable and took the guesswork out of the process so that sustainable ADUs were something that anyone could build. Advertisement Q: Can you elaborate on Dwelly's commitment to sustainability and how it shapes the company's designs? We need to create more housing in a big way. At the same time there is a lot of poor quality construction in New England that went up too fast and is now deteriorating. I want to make sure that the ADUs that are going up over the next few years are built to last and consider the health of our environment and the families living in them. So every decision we make, from the materials we choose to the way we design our building envelopes, is about efficiency and longevity. In our ready-made plan sets we focus on airtight construction, high-performance insulation, and smart mechanical systems to create homes that are comfortable, healthy, and incredibly energy-efficient. Related : Q: How does Dwelly balance affordability with ? It's an ongoing balancing act. A lot of people assume that sustainability equals high costs, but that's not necessarily true. The key is knowing where to invest. By standardizing our designs, we eliminate many of the upfront expenses associated with custom architecture. We also try to specify materials that are readily accessible — reducing your carbon footprint and making it easier for contractors to build. But most importantly, how we design our ADUs saves homeowners money in the long run — lower energy bills, less maintenance, and a home that holds its value over time. Advertisement Jillian Rene 'J.R.' Coffin said costs for the ADUs vary depending on size, finishes, and site conditions. In general, she said, building a high-performance ADU costs between $150,000 and $250,000. dwelly Q: How have recent legislative changes in Rhode Island impacted development of accessory dwelling units, and how does Dwelly navigate those regulations? Following Related : Q: How much does a single unit cost to make, on average, and how much do you sell them for? Costs vary depending on size, finishes, and site conditions, but in general, building a high-performance ADU costs between $150,000 and $250,000. We've designed our system to be as cost-efficient as possible while maintaining quality. Q: How many units does Dwelly typically construct per year? We offer the plans for permitting and construction so we don't have exact numbers on the completed construction at the moment. But we're in the process of scaling up because we've seen such a huge uptick in demand for ADUs with the new legislative changes in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Q: A percentage of Dwelly's proceeds goes toward the to help provide affordable housing for longtime islanders. What motivated this partnership? I have so many amazing memories out on Block Island as a kid so that place is very near and dear to my heart. We are starting with Block Island as a community to donate proceeds towards because housing, taxes, and tourism have increased so immensely that the locals that run the island are getting pushed out and can barely afford to live there. This is a perfect example of how the housing crisis is not only impacting housing costs but making some of the most beautiful places in New England inaccessible to anyone but the ultra wealthy. The Block Island Housing Initiative is doing important work to create more opportunities for longtime island residents to stay on the island, and that aligns with everything Dwelly stands for. Advertisement Q: Dwelly is currently available in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. What markets are you considering to expand to next? We're looking at Connecticut and parts of New York. Many companies offer house plans for sale online that they say can be used nationwide, but as we expand to new markets, we want to ensure we maintain quality, while providing customers with plans they can actually implement in their specific local jurisdictions. Most plans for sale online right now you still have to hire an architect or an engineer to actually build anything. Q: Do you have any investors? Dwelly is primarily self-funded through profits from the custom ADU projects we took on to originally test the concept. In the near term, we're focusing exclusively on grant funding, as we've already demonstrated strong success without relying on outside investors. Through the Q: What challenges does Dwelly face, and how do you plan on overcoming them? Advertisement One of the biggest challenges is navigating the patchwork of regulations across different municipalities. The Boston Globe's weekly Ocean State Innovators column features a Q&A with Rhode Island innovators who are starting new businesses and nonprofits, conducting groundbreaking research, and reshaping the state's economy. Send tips and suggestions to reporter Alexa Gagosz at . Alexa Gagosz can be reached at
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Portland sees growth in middle housing, adds 1,400 units, progress report says
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Portland has seen a 'significant' increase in middle-housing development after zoning updates were implemented, according to a progress report released by the City of Portland on Tuesday. The report tracked middle housing production – including homes such as Accessory Dwelling Units, duplexes, triplexes, four-plexes and cottage clusters – after the city adopted regulations known as the (RIP), along with RIP Part 2. The RIP project was adopted by City Council in 2021 before expanding to RIP2 in 2022 as a way to address rising housing costs by allowing multiple smaller homes on single dwelling lots at lower to the report, these policies have accelerated housing development in single-dwelling residential zones – leading the city to permit 1,400 ADUs and middle housing units between August 1, 2021, and June 30, 2024. Now, middle housing is the most prominent type of housing built in single-dwelling zones, with a majority of these homes seen in east Portland, according to the report. 'The Residential Infill Project is delivering on its purpose,' said Patricia Diefenderfer, chief planner of the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability. 'We are seeing a meaningful expansion of housing options in some of Portland's most desirable neighborhoods, making it easier for Portlanders to find homes that meet their needs.' Skincare stores close following KOIN 6 News investigation Additionally, the report found that middle housing production has led to more affordable homeownership opportunities. According to the city, the average sales price for a new market-rate middle-housing unit was $250,000-$300,000 less than a new market-rate single detached house. 'As interest rates have risen the income required to afford new market-rate homes has risen significantly. The expansion of middle housing allowances has allowed more households to afford new market-rate homes,' the City of Portland said. 'For example, an annual income of $233,000 for a three-person household is required to afford the average price of a new house of $916,000 in 2024. By comparison, an annual income of $116,000 for a three-person household is required to afford a new triplex or fourplex unit, which cost an average of $460,000 in 2024. In other words, the income required to afford the average sales price for middle housing is roughly half of what is required for new houses.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
