In case you didn’t hear the news, Governor Katie Hobbs signed H.B. 2720 this year. It gets us one step closer to remediating the effects of living in a state with almost 50% of land zoned for single-family homes. (scroll down for link to complete bill)
If you’ve been following the City of Tucson’s Casita Model Plan Design Competition from 2022–23, then you are likely familiar with the progress locally on this initiative. But there is some language floating around out there that some people might still not be familiar with. So let’s review some terminology.
Middle housing and ADUs…what are those? Glad you asked 😉
It just so happens that I’ve read and can provide my clients with 3 fantastically rich AARP resources on this subject:
1. “The ABCs of ADUs: A guide to Accessory Dwelling Units and how they expand housing options for people of all ages” (20 pages, see below)
2. “Accessory Dwelling Units: A Step by Step Guide to Design and Development” (82 pages, see below)
3. “Discovering and Developing Missing Middle Housing” (32 pages)
Middle housing includes house-scale multiple-unit houses such as side-by-side duplex or townhouse, an 8-plex, or a live/work complex. ADUs and casitas are a type of middle housing. They often provide us with more size and affordability options and they sit comfortably within the single family residential neighborhoods.
ADU (accessory dwelling unit, aka casitas) are a family-friendly, community-creating housing type that provides flexible solutions for changing needs. They are typically small, secondary homes on an existing lot.
Think: Fonzie’s above-garage apartment in ‘Happy Days’. Aaayy!
For more information, read the complete 9-page AZ House Bill 2720 at:
For more detailed information, check out the above-referenced free AARP downloadable resources by AARP:
Article Sources:
Arizona State University, Morrison Institute for Public Policy
AARP Liveable Communities: All About ADUs
#askarealtor #middlehousing #adus #casitas