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.

Salinas, CA

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021

Project Category: Accessory dwelling units, tiny homes and manufactured housing

Description: 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.