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Montclair Gateway to Aging in Place (2023) Print
2023 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Housing
└ Housing Choice Design Competitions
└ Housing Choice Design Competitions
Skyrocketing housing costs and property taxes left older adults with few options to remain in their neighborhoods. To address this, Montclair Gateway launched a design competition for accessory dwelling units (ADUs), drawing 31 submissions from architecture students. Six winning designs were exhibited publicly and added to an online resource library, giving homeowners practical plans for age-friendly housing. The effort sparked local ADU applications and informed state policy discussions. "We want to keep our elders close to us at this point in our lives and in their lives," said one homeowner.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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Lihue, HI
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Housing Choice Design Competitions
Description: High housing costs in Līhu‘e left older adults and families struggling for affordable options. Better Block Hawaii hosted a design competition for climate-resilient, age-friendly accessory dwelling units, engaging residents through workshops and a review committee. Eight submissions were received, and winning designs were published in a free booklet to guide future builds. "This is a home I can imagine living in," said one attendee at the community open house. The project raised awareness of ADUs as a practical solution for housing and supplemental income and sparked interest in similar efforts across Hawaii.
Iowa City, IA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Housing Choice Design Competitions
Description: To expand affordable housing options, Johnson County tackled restrictive ADU policies through a creative approach: Lego design competitions at fairs, libraries and festivals. The events drew 156 participants and hundreds of visitors, sparking conversations about zoning flexibility. Volunteers shared materials on ADU benefits, and advocacy led Iowa City to adopt nearly all proposed code amendments. Parents at the events voiced interest in ADUs for aging relatives, signaling growing community support for housing solutions.
Cleveland Heights, OH
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Housing Choice Design Competitions
Description: Zoning barriers and high costs limited Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), reducing housing options for older adults. To build awareness and momentum, the city hosted an ADU design competition that drew 28 submissions and over 5,300 online views. Three winning designs will become pre-approved plans, and a showcase event engaged residents and media. These steps laid the groundwork for zoning changes and future ADU construction, offering affordable, accessible housing. One resident said, "After decades of dreaming of a garage conversion for me in my golden years, I was thrilled to learn my city would reconsider zoning."
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Montclair, NJ
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Digital navigation skills
Description: Older adults in Montclair faced digital literacy gaps that left them vulnerable during emergencies. The project trained 40 participants to use smartwatches for alerts, fall detection and SOS features, supported by peer navigators and additional equipment. A best practices report and an online video reinforced learning. Over 90% of participants rated the program "very beneficial", reporting greater confidence and awareness of life-saving tools. One trainee said smartwatch feedback "alerted me to a balance problem" and prompted her to seek professional help.
Montclair, NJ
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Community Gardens
Description: Many older adults lacked outdoor spaces for gardening, limiting chances for physical activity and social connection. The project built four waist-high raised beds with wide ADA-compliant paths and fencing, installed rain barrels and signage, and launched a seven-week gardening course in partnership with Montclair Community Farms. Local scouts helped assemble the garden. Residents have expressed how thrilled they are to have this available, adding that they now have a space that fosters pride and engagement.
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