AARP Hearing Center
AARP Livable Communities Map
See More Projects Like This One
Woodstock, VA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Housing Choice Design Competitions
Description: Shenandoah County faced a shortage of smaller accessible homes that would let older adults stay near family and services. The county launched a design competition to create pre-approved ADU plans and used public outreach to explain why flexible housing matters, especially for residents who want to age in place but struggle with large or costly homes. The project sparked discussions among towns about zoning updates that could expand housing choices. A homeowner with worsening mobility shared that the competition gave her hope she could remain in the home she loves. The effort built momentum for long term improvements and informed communitywide planning.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Port Charlotte, FL
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Housing Choice Design Competitions
Description: The Duplex Design Competition will invite designers to create low-maintenance, age-friendly homes where older adults can age in place. The project aims to balance privacy and community, promoting a healthier and more stable future for older adults.
Jackson, TN
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Housing Choice Design Competitions
Description: The City of Jackson launched an ADU design competition to make it easier for homeowners to create accessible housing that supports aging in place. Rising costs and limited options left many older adults without practical ways to stay in their communities, so the city sought designs that removed common barriers. The competition produced three winning ADU plans with features such as no-step entrances, roll-in showers, wide doorways and lever-style handles. These will become free, pre-approved building plans to help residents save time and reduce costs. Community interest is already strong, and the city expects the plans to increase affordable housing and help more people remain safely at home. Nearby communities have shown interest in replicating the model, and Jackson will next finalize the plans with its Planning Commission and publish them online for public use.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Mobile, AL
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Community Gardens
Description: When the Mobile Medical Museum added a medicinal garden to its campus, the space included a a wooden boardwalk. However, older adults and people with disabilities struggles to navigate the boardwalk. This project made the garden ADA-compliant. Organizers removed the boardwalk and repaved and widened a crumbling concrete path leading to the garden. The garden -- which features medicinal herbs -- hosts community events, as well as art and horticultural therapy classes for people with disabilities and their families.
Mobile, AL
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: Organizers with Via Health, Fitness and Enrichment Center envisioned a community green space where Mobile residents of all ages can interact. This project added two gazebos to the space, providing visitors with shade. Project organizers also installed a bike rack and dog watering station onsite and volunteers constructed a raised garden bed for growing flowers, herbs and vegetables. Since the transformation, Midtown Meets has become a meetup spot for local walking and biking clubs, a space for college students to take study breaks and a place for older adults to socialize. In addition, a new volunteer group, called Midtown Neighbors, continues to meet to work in the community garden beds.
LEARN MORE AND STAY INFORMED
Find articles and resources about making communities more livable for people of all ages
Download or order free publications from AARP Livable Communities
Sign up for the free, weekly, award-winning AARP Livable Communities eNewsletter
Don't see your community listed?
LEARN HOW IT CAN JOIN THE NETWORKConnect with your AARP State Office
AARP has offices in all 50 states as well as in the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
AARP Alabama State Office
400 South Union St.
Suite 100
Montgomery, AL 36104
United States