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City of Salinas (2021) Print
2021 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Housing
└ Accessory dwelling units, tiny homes and manufactured housing
└ Accessory dwelling units, tiny homes and manufactured housing
California's housing shortage has spurred the state to adopt legislation to encourage the creation of accessory dwelling units, with many local governments embracing the small housing type. The City of Salinas created bilingual educational materials and hosted virtual and in-person workshops on regulations, permitting requirements and benefits of ADUs. The City tailored each workshop to either contractors and builders or consumers, with child care and Spanish translation available for attendees. Afterwards, the City posted the materials and workshop videos on the city's website.
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Moulton, AL
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: To revitalize Moulton's downtown area, Moulton Lions Club created parklets, a mural and temporary, artistic crosswalks. The mural is located along Bylar Road -- the area's oldest public road -- and showcases the route's history. To Project organizers also outfitted several parklets with movable benches, chairs and umbrellas to increase foot traffic and provide rest and shade during events, including the annual Strawberry Festival. In addition, the Lions Club created artistic crosswalks with sidewalk chalk. Each had a local theme, from educating locals about endangered salamanders to paying homage to local resident Jesse Owen, who competed at the 1936 Olympics. Lions Club organizers says they hope the project will spur residents to consider how art can make public spaces more appealing.
Hinton, WV
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Park enhancements
Description: Hinton's west side -- home to many older adults and lower-income families -- was without a public greenspace or playground. Summers County Huddle decided to change that, creating the All Aboard Community Park on a parcel of land donated to the City of Hinton. Volunteers installed a gazebo, raised planter beds and playground equipment onsite. To serve people of all ages, the playground structures can double as exercise equipment for adults. Partnering with the City and local organizations, Summers County Huddle pulled together a team of intergenerational volunteers to build and maintain the park. Since the project's completion, many volunteers have continued to brainstorm ways to improve the neighborhood, including repairing sidewalks, installing lights and addressing vacancy.
Los Angeles, CA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020
Project Category: Developing projects based on residents' priorities
Description: The Echo Park Film Center invited older community members to share their life stories via film. Twenty participants provided photos and memorabilia from their lives and recorded their voices, which EPFC staff and students used to create a short video for each person. The organization then held an outdoor screening to share the films with the community. One thing you realize when getting older is that your experiences are never lost, and you retrieve them at different parts of your life. And when you move on and most need it, it reappears and you are pleasantly amazed. And this is one of those experiences, participant Ida Talalla said in her video. The Echo Park Film Center gave me a chance to be creative with my reflections.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Seaside, CA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020
Project Category: Accessory dwelling units, tiny homes and manufactured housing
Description: United Way of Monterey County constructed two accessory dwelling units in Seaside. Each unit meets standards for visitability and is deed-restricted, which requires the units to be rented out at affordable rates. To reduce costs and cut down on permitting times for residents interested in building their own ADUs, the United Way also created prototype ADU blueprints and made them available on Seaside's website. In addition, they held four workshops to educate the public about the value of infill development for housing affordability. Over 400 people attended and since the workshops the City has received more than 60 applications for ADU permits, with many using the pre-approved ADU plans. Project organizers say the County and nearby Salinas have since made their own ADU plans available to the public.
Santa Cruz, CA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2017
Project Category: Accessory dwelling units, tiny homes and manufactured housing
Description: An increasing number of older adults are at risk of losing their homes. Common reasons include rising housing costs or homes that are unsuitable for aging in place. According to David Foster, executive director of Habitat for Humanity Monterey Bay, 300 families in the high-cost Santa Cruz area are income-burdened. To address this, Habitat for Humanity's My House My Home program builds aging-friendly accessory dwelling units. This project involved building an ADU attachment onto an older couple's home. That allowed the couple to rent out the unit, providing them with rental income that allowed them to remain in their home of 50 years. Grant funding also supported accessibility to the main house, including a new walkway and ramp, as well as low-water landscaping. They have the option to move into the ADU - which also includes accessibility features - if they choose to downsize in the future.
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