An Alternative to Assisted Living

This article argues that the zoning patterns after World War II should be reformed. In particular, families should be encouraged to have multiple generations in the same house or on the same property. It compares today’s animosity toward multiple generations in the same house to the practice not long ago for grandparents to live with their offspring instead of moving to assisted living or nursing homes.

Coppage argues that we should embrace accessory dwelling units (the technical name for a “granny flat,” “mother-in-law suite,” “carriage house,” “secondary unit,” “backyard cottage”—or dawdi haus). He suggests we should be more permissive in granting Americans the rights to build additional housing on their properties—be it a basement apartment or a MEDCottage in the backyard.

Accessory dwelling units (ADUs) offer the opportunity for supplemental income, a separate but complementary space for the elderly, and a flexible, rentable space for those who may have college students or millennials looking for a place to crash. They also, importantly, pose some challenges for cities or neighborhoods hesitant to increase tourism, density, and traffic—which we will consider later on. But first, let’s look at some major positives to ADU-inclusive zoning.