Altoona Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Competition

The United States is facing a housing crisis.  People renting want to own their homes, people with larger homes want to downsize as they no longer need the extra space, and residents with special needs want accessible housing units.  Families that want to live together in a multi-generational space have few options.  The problem is that each population has limited affordable and accessible options, which is where Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) can help.  ADUs are small residences that share a single-family lot with a larger primary dwelling.

While the City of Altoona code allows ADUs, the City has not seen any ADUs installed.   Through a partnership with the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), the City wants to inform potential homeowners about ADUs and how they can address the housing crunch.   Additionally, the City wants to provide homeowners with designs they can take to qualified contractors to finalize and construct ADUs to change the market and provide housing options for both old and young residents.

The City of Altoona has partnered with AARP for a design competition and open house presentation to address this issue. Prospective designers will assemble and present a design to a citizen selection group.  Competitors will compete for cash prizes of $5,000 for first place, $3,000 for second place, and $1,500 for third place to present their best Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) designs.