What are ADUs and Why Might They Work for Penfield?
- Fran McCarthy
- Mar 13
- 2 min read
Updated: Mar 15
by Fran McCarthy, 2/26/26
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) are independent, smaller residential, units (attached, detached, or basement/garage conversions) located on the same lot as a single family home.
Missing Middle Housing (MMH) is housing for those who are generally employed but not making the income that would afford them the ability to purchase a home or rent an apartment in many of our Monroe County suburbs. These individuals include the “local workforce” comprised of individuals such as single income masters prepared teachers and social workers, nursing personnel such as RNs/LPNs, retail workers such as non-management employees in our local grocery stores, security, first responders, and police personnel, as well as elderly retired individuals or couples hoping to stay within the communities they contributed to and raised their children but are now on fixed incomes facing raising school and property taxes making it hard to afford ageing in place.
How Can ADUs benefit the Missing Middle?
ADUs assist the missing middle by providing lower cost, diverse housing options, allowing seniors to age in place, generating rental income for home owners, and offering work force housing.
How do ADUs Support Housing Needs?
Elders downsizing and income opportunity: Seniors can build an ADU to live in while renting the main house, or rent the ADU to caregiver/tenant to augment fixed income, allowing them to remain in their communities.
Young Adults and Starter Homes: ADUs offer affordable, private, and nearby housing options for young adults returning to their home towns on entry-level salaries.
Service Workers: As smaller, often naturally occurring community based affordable housing, ADUs can provide for local workers (retail, nursing, police, fire) near their jobs.
Benefits:
ADUs increase density lessening suburban spread, improve property values by up to 35%, and offer flexible, multi-generational living.
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