PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
AWARDED AARP COMMUNITY CHALLENGE GRANT
FOR ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT COMPETITION
The City of Tucson Planning and Development Services (PDSD) was awarded an AARP 2023 Community Challenge grant on June 28, 2023 to launch an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Design Competition.
The grant represents a significant milestone in Tucson's commitment to affordable housing and livability. After the approval of ADUs in Tucson a year ago, the City of Tucson Mayor and Council, in collaboration PDSD, recognized the opportunity to further enhance efforts in promoting casitas as an inclusive and adaptable housing option for the community. The AARP Community Challenge grant will bolster ADUs and specifically address the housing needs of older adults and multigenerational families.
"Addressing our city’s housing needs, particularly for affordable housing, has been among my key priorities as Mayor. We legalized ADUs a little over a year ago and Tucson residents have shown lots of interest in building casitas using our new ADU policy," said Tucson Mayor Regina Romero.
"One of the barriers to building more ADUs has been cost, and I, along with my colleagues on the City Council, have expressed support for creating a model plan catalog to reduce design costs for ADUs. This AARP Community Challenge Grant to support an Accessory Dwelling Unit Design Competition will jump start the process for our model plan catalog. I look forward to seeing innovative ideas for low-cost casitas that reflect Tucson’s unique character from our design community," said Mayor Romero.
More information will be released in July about guidelines for the ADU Model Plan Competition, rules for submission, criteria for review of proposals, and a virtual public information session. The selected designs will be featured in the City of Tucson's Casita Model Plan Catalog.
"By launching a design competition, Tucson aims to promote ADUs and develop a model plan catalog. This initiative will provide for diverse housing needs," said Planning and Development Services Director Kristina Swallow. "We are honored AARP selected Tucson as a grantee to support our ongoing efforts to promote casitas as an inclusive and adaptable housing option for our community."
The Community Challenge grants, totaling $3.6 million among 310 organizations nationwide, support projects that enhance livability in communities, focusing on the needs of adults aged 50 and older.
In Arizona, seven organizations were awarded these grants, marking the largest group of grantees to date. The projects will address various aspects of community improvement, such as public places, transportation, housing, digital connections, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
View the list of grantees nationwide and their project descriptions at AARP Community Challenge and learn more about AARP’s livable communities work at AARP Livable Communities.
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About AARP
AARP is the nation's largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to the more than 100 million Americans 50-plus and their families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also produces the nation's largest circulation publications: AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org/about-aarp/, www.aarp.org/español or follow @AARP, @AARPenEspañol and @AARPadvocates on social media.
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