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2023 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Housing
└ Housing Choice Design Competitions
└ Housing Choice Design Competitions
High housing costs and limited multigenerational options in Fresno leave older adults with few affordable choices. To address this, the organization launched an ADU design competition, engaging professionals and students to create sustainable, accessible concepts. Designs were showcased at a public expo with educational materials on permitting and a permanent resource webpage. The effort sparked regional dialogue and plans for a spring roundtable on affordability.
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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Lewisville, TX
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Housing Choice 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.
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.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Rock Falls, IL
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Housing Choice Design Competitions
Description: Blackhawk Hills Regional Council sought to address the need for practical housing designs that support multigenerational living and accessibility in rural communities. Their regional design competition drew 11 submissions judged on universal design, affordability and flexible layouts that help older adults and families live together comfortably. Most entries incorporated strong accessibility features, giving residents and leaders clear examples of how modern housing concepts can be built. Public voting helped introduce these ideas across the region. The project produced a library of designs that BHRC will exhibit in 2026 and explore for construction, offering a roadmap for future builds and local adoption.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Fresno, CA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Housing Choice Design Competitions
Description: Fresno's housing affordability crisis has left many older adults unhoused, even as vacant commercial spaces sit unused. To spark solutions, the council hosted a design competition focused on repurposing a historic Chinatown building for housing. The event drew architects, engineers, students and city leaders, generated 10 conceptual designs and featured a public showcase and building tour that highlighted cultural preservation and code barriers. The effort connected professionals and advocates, creating momentum for adaptive reuse. One volunteer reflected that the experience changed his perspective on safety and livability in this part of town.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Fresno, CA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Engaging residents alongside thought leaders in problem solving
Description: Statewide advocacy in California can be a difficult process for residents to navigate. To increase community engagement towards more livable communities, the California State University Fresno Foundation created a curriculum tailored to adults aged 50 or older. The Foundation then provided 24 hours of online instruction to a cohort of older adults over the course of several weeks. Participants learned about issues facing older adults in the Central Valley, where the fastest growing demographic is adults over the age of 85. The students heard from -- and about -- local community groups. They also improved their public speaking, leadership and advocacy skills.
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