Accessory Dwelling Units: The Appeal of Living Small

Chris Iverson, the home’s owner, understood his role as a groundbreaker for ADUs in his neighborhood and went with a sleek design, so out-of-the-ordinary dog walkers, bikers, and drives often stop and have a look.

“The architecture gets a lot of interest from people,” said Iverson, who works out of his home in the information technology field. “I’ve had people stop by and take photos and say, ‘we love your house.’”

On a home tour earlier, this year the 650-square-foot ADU attracted more than 1,200 visitors who discovered what living small looks like in the Longfellow neighborhood of the city. Many expressed an interest in building one on their property and asked him plenty of questions, he said.

The idea of having a separate residence within a home or on city property is hardly new. They went by many other names in the “old” days, among them laneway houses, granny flats, in-law units, and secondary units. Today planners dub them ADUs, and they have become prevalent in Portland, Los Angeles, Seattle, Austin, and other growing cities.

Driving the trend now, as in past decades, was a desire to live in the city, to offer an affordable option to young couples who might not otherwise be able to buy a home, and to allow parents to age in place near family members who can provide support, companionship, and love. Others want ADUs to lease them as Airbnbs or longer-term rentals.

“There is a more urban mentality to ADUs,” said Christopher Strom, the architect of Iverson’s home. “It’s more about proximity to amenities than amenities you would have in the home. It’s for people who heavily weigh the location of where they’re living than having a large house.”

St. Paul, on the other hand, first permitted ADUs in just one neighborhood and saw just one built. After a long debate among neighborhoods, the city council in October 2018 expanded ADUs to the entire city.

Iverson knows something about zoning problems. After the city rejected his initial plan, he spent more than $3,000 on paperwork to get the ADU approved. No neighbors have ever complained, he said, and now, any of them could build their own ADUs without the expensive paperwork.

Key to making the ADU a reality is the required ownership of the main property. Iverson owns and rents the 1922 duplex on the street in front of the ADU. Part of the issue with the city, he said, was zoning issues involving the duplex, the only one on his block.

“I would say the biggest barrier is the price,” he said. “People have it in their mind they’re getting a tricked-out garage, and it’s a small, second home, with all the same traits and complexities that come with building any home.”

Yet the market is strong enough for Strom to have developed a special website for clients interested in a second suite. The site suggests a rough “guesstimate” of $175,000 to $300,000 for a second suite and a completion range of between six and 12 months.

The lifecycle of a home with a second suite is outlined in an intriguing way. An ADU begins as more space for a growing family. Years later it is rented or used by a son or daughter attending college, followed by a young adult needing a space to live.

Grandparents eventually move in and when the initial owner's age, they migrate to the second suite, and the main house becomes occupied by one or more of their family members.

For Iverson being avatar was satisfactory enough for Iverson. He figures he achieved his desire to promote high density living in an eco-friendly environment.