It is clear that ADUs are growing into the mainstream of housing conversations when the White House starts discussing ways to make it easier to build accessory dwelling units across the country.
There were some excellent speakers, including Robert Liberty who I did some work with while living in Portland. My only criticism is it would have been nice for them to include some designers who specialize in these units to talk about design considerations as well as some of the hurdles we experience turning ideas into built homes.
On February 1st, 2022, the White House hosted a virtual event on making it easier to build accessory dwelling units (ADUs). Featured speakers included:
• Ambassador Susan Rice, White House Domestic Policy Advisor
• Sandra Thompson, Acting Director, Federal Housing Finance Agency
• Lopa Kolluri, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Housing and the Federal Housing Administration, Department of Housing and Urban Development
• Mike Hernandez, Vice President Engagement & Impact, Fannie Mae
• Mayor Miro Weinberger, Burlington, Vermont
• Denise Pinkston, President, The Casita Coalition
• Karen Chapple, Professor Emerita of City & Regional Planning, University of California at Berkeley and Director of the School of Cities, University of Toronto
• Kevin Skinner, EVP, Head of Home Lending, Umpqua Bank
• Noni Ramos, CEO, Housing Trust Silicon Valley
• Robert Liberty, Strategic Partner, Cascadia Partners
• Rodney Harrell, Vice President, Family, Home and Community, AARP Public Policy Institute
• Tom DeSimone, President & CEO, Genesis LA