ADUs provide an opportunity for homeowners to create flexible living spaces for family or caretakers or generate income through long or short term rental. However, the prospect of renovating and construction, or welcoming a stranger into your personal space or managing the property might be intimidating or daunting. This session hopes to relieve some of these concerns by offering various perspectives from ADU home owners, property managers, and groups who share their experience with everything from building to renting. Through our series we have been exploring the role ADUs can play in realizing a healthy housing ecosystem.
This is even more important than ever given today’s context of COVID, the housing and climate crises, and social inequalities throughout. The beauty of ADUs are that they are made by and for the community, within an existing community. They also raise interesting questions of shared space, small scale building challenges, homeowners as developers and the tenant experience. This session is all about the people who own and live in these small homes, the impact they have had on their lives, and the barriers and opportunities they present.
Learn more about this series here.
Renee focuses on supporting homeowners to build ADUs in Napa and Sonoma Counties through collaboration with local jurisdictions, nonprofits, and the private sector with a goal of increasing housing affordability in the community. She lives in an ADU.
At the Center for Elders’ Independence, Lenore works to empower frail, low-income seniors to live independently through an innovative model of healthcare and medical services. She lives in an ADU.
“When my little neighbor tells me he’s going to the store, I always have a list. There’s nothing more gratifying than having this young man show up at my door with a big smile on his face helping me get my groceries. His mom assures me it means a lot to him too.”
– Lenore McDonald
Olesia’s concierge home service company aims to improve communication between builders and homeowners through an efficient and transparent process. Olesia became an ADU Specialist after helping a client navigate the ADU build process.
“I got myself an ADU specialist certificate because I was curious and inspired by how much flexibility it gives families to face whatever life throws in their direction.”
– Olesia Chikunova
As Housing Manager of the City of Napa, Lark has designed affordable housing programs that utilize home-share match-ups and ADU incentives and understands the role a city must take to encourage more ADU development and occupancy.
“I love the concept of intergenerational housing. We often found that younger families could not afford to live near their grandparents because the neighborhood became too expensive for new homeowners. ADUs make it possible for these families to reconnect.”
– Lark Ferrell
Alex Coba
Communication Associate
As a proud California native from Stockton, Alex brings a wealth of experience and a versatile skill set. He has a solid communication background with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Public Relations from California State University, Chico. Alex is adept at strategic communications and media relations, with experience gathering and sharing stories from his local communities that uplift the unique spirit and values of those places. He is excited to join Build It Green, where he can apply his talents to further BIG’s mission to help communities across California thrive