RI Architect Launches Blue ADU, Building Small Homes to Combat the Housing Crisis

RI Architect Launches Blue ADU, Building Small Homes to Combat the Housing Crisis

With Rhode Island struggling to build homes to meet the crushing demand of the housing crisis, one architect has launched a company to try to address at least a portion of the need - and thinks Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) are critical.

David Sisson, the principal architect and owner of Rhode Island-based firm David Sisson Architecture has launched sister company Blue ADU.

The new company provides consulting and design services to property owners looking to develop accessory dwelling units and educates the public about the potential opportunities and benefits that ADUs offer. It also has a portfolio of pre-designed ADU homes.

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ADU is a residential living unit on the same lot as a single-family or multi-family dwelling. It's essentially a secondary housing unit that provides independent living facilities. ADUs can be detached, part of an accessory structure like a garage, or within the primary dwelling. 

 

RI Worst in Homebuilding and Affordability

As GoLocal reported last week, Rhode Island is ranked as the worst state for addressing the housing challenge and is last in the country for homebuilding and affordability, according to a new report from Realtor.com.

"We know that the housing supply gap is not evenly distributed across the country," says Realtor.com senior economist Joel Berner.

“Based on numerical score, Rhode Island ranks lowest on the report card. As the smallest state, Rhode Island might suffer from a lack of available land on which to build,” reports Realtors.

“However, the second-smallest state, Delaware, ranked above the national average with a grade of C+, suggesting that land availability might not be the only issue at play in Rhode Island,” it adds.

Of the 13 A and B grades handed out on the new report card, all were to states in the South or Midwest. Meanwhile, the seven F grades on the report card all went to states in the West and the Northeast.

 

Sisson's Efforts

“We have been advocating for Rhode Island and Massachusetts to pass sensible accessory dwelling unit legislation for years. For even longer, the headlines have been about the housing crisis and about the shortage of housing inventory. Much of our work is with developers and investors producing and rehabbing multifamily housing, working hard to add quality housing units to the market," said Sisson. 

"The new ADU laws in Rhode Island and Massachusetts finally take a powerful step in the right direction by creating opportunities for not only developers and investors, but the everyday homeowners,” said Sisson.

Sisson added, “The housing crisis isn’t just about rental housing, though by building more housing, rental prices stabilize and appreciation slows. But it is also about families being given the freedom to build the housing that is right for them. For more multigenerational homes to come back to our communities. For seniors to safely downsize on their own property and age in place. Also, homeowners have the freedom to earn additional income and build equity in typically what is their largest asset: their home. We are passionate about spreading this message and providing life-changing information and opportunities, along with expert consulting and design services.”

Blue ADU already has a portfolio of ADU design projects spanning each possible ADU type including basement conversions, attic conversions, garage lofts, detached ADUs, attached ADUs, both new construction and remodels and in both single-family and multifamily structures.