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Welcome to Your Daily Dot where Dot will share tips, advice, and stories on how we can make our world better.
All Dear Dot illustrations by Elissa Turnbull. |
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Dear Reader,
Dot isn’t yet a grandmother and has no opinion on whether or not any of my now-adult children should have children of their own. But there’s one aspect of grandmotherhood that is downright appealing: my own granny suite. I would love to give up the house in which I raised three children and more than a dozen pets for a small, tidy, easy-to-manage “cottage” … in one of my kid’s backyards. I would promise to mind my own business, tend my own garden, and only come when called, like a dutiful dog. Pinky swear!
Alas, none of my children have backyards. The housing crisis has placed starter homes out of reach for far too many these days. Which is why a granny suite (aka an “accessory dwelling unit” or “ADU”) is an idea whose time has come. Again.
“ADUs are a low-profile way to improve urban housing density without cluttering streetscapes or introducing more-obtrusive multifamily complexes,” writes Bluedot contributor Allison Braden. “They tend to run tight and lean, with efficient appliances, tankless water heaters, and low energy demand, making them attractive and affordable places to live in a time of skyrocketing housing costs and worsening shortages.”
Many towns and cities are cutting the red tape that would otherwise accompany the building of these structures, recognizing that creating additional housing and density in a sustainable way is smart policy.
Are you ADU curious? Check out our story and then find out what’s happening in your community. Plenty of companies are offering affordable modular units to make construction even easier.
“Any ADU will bring some environmental benefits,” Allison writes, “but designing and building with sustainability in mind will shrink your backyard bungalow’s energy footprint and make it a healthier, more pleasant, and planet-friendly place to live for renters, family members, or, hey, maybe even you.” Sold, Allison! Dot can’t wait to move into one!
Constructively,
Dot
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