It Came from the Backyard - Page 5

Building challenges exist

One reason freestanding accessory dwelling units remain rare is because they are challenging to build.

"Getting my structure properly permitted has not been an easy process," Thomas Westfall says of his ADU. "It's easier than it used to be, but I wouldn't say easy. A lot of processes and permits. They were threatening to tear it down and make me pay for it."

Westfall faced issues of plumbing, electricity, and fire safety. "I don't think I would have gone through this effort unless I had an existing structure with electricity," he adds.

"If you are thinking about building an ADU, hire an architect," says Westfall, who did just that. "Hire somebody who has done this before and is familiar with the process and the paperwork."

His neighbor, Ken Cashion, was unpleasantly surprised by costs. "The budget, I padded it up by one third, and in the end the budget had doubled," Cashion says. The project wound up costing "just north of $500,000."

"If you can live with prefab, do it," Cashion says. "Custom [design] will cost a lot. For me, the opportunity of building something from scratch, out of my own head, was something I wanted to do for a long time."

By far the easiest and most architecturally compatible way to create an ADU is to stay within the walls of your existing home, creating what is termed a 'junior ADU,' says architect Joyce Yin.

"The best way to get an ADU is to convert the garage. It would be kind of seamless," she says. "To keep the Eichler aesthetic, you keep the solid wall of the garage door, adding windows and doors on the side."

Then, Yin says, you add a bathroom and small kitchen, an electric 'mini-split' for heating and air conditioning, and drywall for fire separation between the garage and the rest of the house. "And voila!" she says. "There you go."

Who will feel the benefit?

As the California suburbs shift from the one-family/one-house model to a community with greater variation, suburbanites should benefit, some Eichler owners believe.

"I think density in general benefits everybody," Sally Zarnowitz says. "The more people we have in different stages of life and different professions, with different things to offer and different needs, all that works to make a neighborhood better and more functional. It adds to the stability of a neighborhood.

"The goal really is to knit small units into the existing fabric of the neighborhood. It's a way of going after a green neighborhood. Knitting units into an existing neighborhood is more sustainable [than building new neighborhoods]. Then we're not sprawling."

• Concerned that ADUs or multi-unit structures might disrupt your neighborhood? Check with your local planning department to find out how far along your jurisdiction has come in adopting rules on size and lot placement, and on guidelines for historic neighborhoods. You may have time to weigh in. Once rules are in place, cities and counties are likely to publish materials clarifying what can and cannot be done. Want to find out if building an ADU is right for you? Best bet is to consult with a knowledgeable architect, and check with your city planners.

• For our supplemental story, 'Navigating the World of ADUs,' with guidance from home-improvement pros on building a successful ADU, click here.

Photography & illustrations: Rory Earnshaw, Mariko Reed, Ken Cashion, Mike Gordon, Casey Dunn; and courtesy Klopf Architecture, Modern House Architects, Studio Robbins Cortina, Matt Garcia Design, in feet cubed, Rost Architecture, Backyard Eichler

PROFESSIONAL
STORY RESOURCES

Klopf Architecture
klopfarchitecture.com

Modern House Architects
modernhousearchitects.com

Thomas Westfall
thomaswestfall.com

Erdal Swartz Team
atriare.com