Housing for other people in or near your family home are called Accessory Dwelling Units. Minneapolis and St Paul have recently added new ordinances that allow home owners in their cities to add onto their property. The concept has been evolving since the beginnings of housing. But, over the past several years, has taken more codified plans beginning in Europe and the east coast of the United States. The movement started as a way to bring extended family needs together and possibly bringing in new income for property owners.
With these new building-permit-codes home owners can get permits to add onto their property if they meet certain design conditions. The idea allows property owners to provide space for extended families to live closer to enable easier care giving for children and older parents. Both of these scenarios can be a win for both the property owner and the new tenants. Grandparents can watch over grandchildren when needed but also grandparents can have nearby support from their children as well.
The added construction can be built as an attachment to the existing building, a partitioning of the existing building or built separately, but still on the building lot.
Building within the current structure is often the cheapest solution for more living space. New walls can be built to provide separate living spaces for relatives or friends with direct access if needed between the living spaces.
Adding onto the current structure has more design flexibility, but keeping the best access for both parties in mind. Separate access is often desired for these new spaces. All the residents can come and go as needed, yet be readily accessed if needed.
The third option is to build a separate structure on the same property. It could be a restoration of an old out building on the property or redesigning and rebuilding an old structure like a separate garage or simply adding a small house where a garden or garage used to be.
Cities, architects, property owners have readily latched on to these ideas and more units are being built every year.
On the recent Minneapolis St Paul Home Tour I had a chance to visit two Minneapolis houses that have adopted these concepts using local architects. They are located in the Bancroft and Longfellow-Howe neighborhoods.
I had a chance to talk with David Wade of Family Housing Fund staff and Marnie Peichel architect for the ADU home at 4000 12th Ave. S. It is their passion to make housing affordable in the Twin Cities.
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