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OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2021 • IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT HOME & LIFESTYLE PAGE 9

Several years ago, Bozeman plan-
ning officials teamed with Montana State
University’s College of Architecture, so
students could design ADU options, outline
resources to get started, and make it easier
to develop these units.
Matsen notes Bozeman recently com-
pleted a draft review of its development
code, and over the years the city has pro-
gressively eased restrictions on ADUs as the
region’s housing market tightened.
“We’ve done a lot to encourage and a
lot to make them easier,” Matsen says,
estimating the city sees an addition of
about 20 ADU units a year. (Bozeman’s 2020
Community Plan estimated the city needs
12,700 new residences by 2045 to meet the
current housing shortfall and address its
projected population growth.)
A shortage in housing supply, general
contractors, and labor has not made ADUs A shortage in housing supply, general contractors, and labor has not made ADUs any cheaper per square
any cheaper per square foot relative to foot relative to building other housing. But they can be a much more affordable option for seniors who
building other housing. But they can be a might otherwise need to buy property of equal size. Pictured here an ADU designed by Harka Architecture
of Portland, Ore. Photo courtesy Harka Architecture.
much more affordable option for seniors
who might otherwise need to buy property on the size and any pre-existing structures, “Infill lots with city utilities readily
of equal size (usually the biggest component such as a garage. available [are] even more so,” she said.
of housing prices) and building the same PLANNING AHEAD FOR FAMILY Her family planned to build a new home
housing unit. Freda Wilkinson of Big Sky Brokers on the parcel and decided to add an ADU for
The online real estate marketplace Zillow Real Estate in Helena, Mont., is building Wilkinson’s aunt.
notes that ADUs don’t come cheap. Cost a new home on an infill lot she was for- “Our vision in building a home for our
depends on the type and size of the ADU as tunate to buy recently. An infilled lot is a family and a home for my aunt on the same
well as local wages. vacant, in-town parcel of land surrounded lot is that we can share responsibilities and
According to the City of San Jose, Calif., by other developed properties. According team up on things that will make all of our
website, a “new, custom-built detached ADU to Wilkinson, these types of properties are lives easier.”
may cost as much as $250,000,” depending rare and hard to find.
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