- We were wondering about the human aspect in all of this.

Who amongst our neighbors would want an A DU and for what particular use would they use it?

We welcome Brick by Bricks.

Amaco more to the studio.

Hi Amaco.

- Hi Anne - Amaco.

You tracked down a couple of backyard Cottage owners.

- Yes.

We found two people in Cincinnati who built backyard cottages for very different purposes.

And we know there are a few different uses.

That's true.

One built it for rental income and the other to provide housing for an aging parent.

Let's take a listen.

The state stately Victorian home isn't the only home on the West End property tucked behind the swimming pool.

In the backyard is an A DU that Dallas and Harriet Harrington live in.

You.

- You are sharing the space naturally.

You know, you are really sharing the - Space.

I don't know, I sort have a mortar feeling of safety because it's not just us here, you know, there's, there's other people around and there's a pool.

- The Harrington's moved back to Cincinnati after many years, saw the benefits of living in a backyard cottage and knew the owner Gerald Bates.

- So when we designed the exterior of the building, we tried to do something that would match the house.

- Bates finished his new A DU just three months ago.

- It has an open floor plan, so an open living dining kitchen area, a bath and a bedroom on one level, and then on the loft level it has another open space and a bathroom.

- And while he was working on it, there was plenty of interest.

- People would come by and they'd say, is, are you gonna be renting that?

And I said, yeah.

They said, oh, we'd be really interested - With rents going up and a shortage of housing.

Bates saw the advantages of renting out an A DU in his backyard.

He worked with a historic board, but had some back and forth with the city on design and material choices.

- I kind of objected and then I thought about it and I said, you know what, that's fine.

So we went ahead and that's the trade off.

- Bates invested a few hundred thousand to build his carriage house, adding one third to the value of his property and rental income to cover costs.

- You know, we just have enjoyed having tenants and they have their privacy and we have ours.

- But not all backyard cottages are as elaborate.

Others are more practical.

Like Sandy Hamilton's in the north side neighborhood of Cincinnati, 90 years ago, she needed a place for her 90-year-old mother to stay who was having trouble taking care of herself.

- She just was so happy that she was only gonna be a few doors from where she lived.

A few doors from McKee Recreation Center, a few doors from her church a block and a half away.

And many of her friends, you walk inside the door, there are no steps.

It's her dining and kitchen area.

Also a washer and dryer, a little visiting area.

And her bed was at the end of the room of the wet room is think it's about 10 by 12.

So had she ever gone into a wheelchair, she still could have fully functioned.

- Hamilton was able to build this A DU because she had a second lot.

But what she didn't have initially was permission from the city.

And that took a year.

- It wasn't a very friendly experience.

- ADUs weren't legal at the time.

- They wanted mom to have a driveway off of Hamilton.

Well, to have a cut through on a major street is extremely expensive, much more than this side street.

And also my mom never drove in her life, so there was no reason to have a driveway.

- But her persistence paid off.

And six months after getting the permits, she built the accessory apartment.

It - Was about a hundred dollars a square foot and the, it's 480 square feet on the first floor - According to a A RP.

79% of older adults want to age in their community and the need for safe and accessible senior housing is growing at a rapid pace.

In 2034, there will be more people over 65 than under 18.

- I found it very reasonable, especially compared with retirement facilities in that although my mom had some assets, she probably had, she lived a lot longer.

She probably would've gone through those assets at a nursing home - While her mother passed away in 2021, Hamilton sees ADUs as a godsend for many adaptable over time, they can offer housing for a young family, a caregiver, or provide rental income.

As in Bates's case, - Well, having renters helps to offset the cost of owning the building.

Even though even if you don't have a mortgage, you still have basic maintenance, upkeep, utilities, - And can fulfill various needs in a community.

I - Think it will be a tremendous opportunity to care for parents or a widowed parent, a aunt or a grandmother, even a disabled child that might have a live-in caretaker.

I think it's tremendous - Back in the studio now with Amaco.

Thanks for that.

You really did a good job pointing out the flexibility of ADUs.

They can be used for so many different things and I really like aging in place.

- Yes.

The A A RP is advocating for these smaller, more flexible housing units as a practical solution for our housing needs.

90% of the 50 plus population want to stay in their homes and communities as they age, where they have strong social networks and are familiar with the area.

And as in Gerald Bates's case, ADUs can make housing more affordable for both owner and renter.

- But it sounds like there were a few hurdles for both of them.

- Yes.

As you've been mentioning, ADUs were just legalized in Cincinnati last year.

So at the time it took Sandy Hamilton only six months to build her backyard cottage, but double that time, 12 months to get her permits approved.

And that is valuable time when you have an aging parent.

Bates took over three years to build because he was paying for construction out of pocket.

- But now Cincinnati fast forward has legalized them, so hopefully it will be easier.

I'm, I'm guessing.

Yes.

- Let's hope it does get easier.

- Thanks Amy Cove.

We'll catch up with you for the takeaways.