Lewisville, TX

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024

Project Category: Housing Design Competitions

Description: Rapid growth and rising housing costs left older adults struggling to age in place, even after zoning changes allowed accessory dwelling units (ADUs). To raise awareness, the city launched a Backyard Cottage Design Competition, engaging more than 18,000 residents through events and multilingual outreach. Older adults volunteered at parades and judging sessions, while the contest drew 67 design submissions and awarded prizes across multiple categories. The effort sparked interest in ADUs, led to a Permit Ready Plans portal for pre-approved designs and strengthened community engagement for future housing solutions.

Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.

Portland, OR

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2026

Project Category: Housing Design Competitions

Description: An aging-in-place guide and video will be created from proven housing examples. The materials will help neighborhoods explore local housing pathways.

Tampa, FL

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023

Project Category: Housing Design Competitions

Description: Tampa's housing crisis has left many residents, including older adults, struggling to afford shelter. To spotlight a flexible solution, Habitat Hillsborough hosted an ADU Design Competition, drawing six teams from schools and architecture firms. At a public event, participants pitched designs to a panel of experts and eight winners were selected. Plans will be posted online for public use, and the contest sparked interest among policymakers and residents. "The kids got to have hands-on experience using CAD" and gained valuable lifelong experience said one of the teachers, underscoring the project's impact on future housing innovation.

Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.