Do you want a tiny house in your backyard complete with electricity and plumbing?
This month, the City of Alexandria will start hosting community meetings about Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs).
ADUs don't have to be only tiny houses -- they may include garden apartments or additions to an existing home.
The City of Alexandria defines ADUs this way: "An ADU, commonly referred to as an 'in-law apartment' or 'granny flat' is a second, separate living unit. ADUs can be built by converting a basement into an apartment, adding an addition to an existing house, building an apartment over a garage, converting an existing detached garage, or building a new backyard cottage. An ADU is distinguished from renting out part of a house because it is a totally separate living unit, with a separate entrance, bathroom and kitchen."
The first meeting about ADUs be at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 12, at the Mount Vernon Recreation Center at 2701 Commonwealth Ave. A second meeting will be at 7 p.m. Monday, March 28 at Beatley Library, 5005 Duke St.
After the March 12 meeting, the City will also release the link to an online survey for feedback from residents.
ADUs may help Alexandria residents with more choice in local housing stock at various price points in more neighborhoods. "While these units alone will certainly not solve the housing crisis, they do fill an important gap," according to a city informational release.
ADUs can also be useful for families who want older relatives to live with them while maintaining their own privacy, or for families who want an additional income stream from a small rental unit.
For more information and the track the progress of ADU development in Alexandria, follow the project page here: https://tinyurl.com/AlexADU.
