ADU options could address affordable housing crisis

Local and state dignitaries stand with Judy Purcell in front of her new ADU

With rental prices between $1,500 and $2,500 per month, there is an affordable housing crisis in the Milford. The crisis is not limited to just Milford, however, as rental costs have skyrocketed over the past decade across the country. One way that Milford as well as Kent and Sussex County are addressing the high rent prices is the authorization of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs).

“An ADU is a second residence either built new or construced in an existing garage or outbuilding,” Rob Pierce, City Planner, explained at a meeting when council approved the ordinance a few years ago. “The city allows for ADUs as long as the main residence or the ADU is owner-occupied.”

Jim Purcell and his mother, Judy Purcell, just completed construction on a new ADU on Jim’s property that will now be Judy’s home. The ADU is 675 square feet with a living room, kitchen, bedroom and bathroom. The project was completed by Milford Housing Development Corporation.  President and CEO, David Moore, stated that ADUs were going to be a game changer for affordable housing.

“Not only is it beneficial for people like Judy who are looking for affordable, accessible housing near family after retirement, but for young people just coming out of college, just starting out,” Moore said. “Too many young people cannot afford rent unless they have a bunch of roommates or they have aging parents or in laws who need more and more care. For many of these people, ADUs are the right choice.”

Moore explained that the units are available in both one- and two-bedroom options. The size of the ADU is based on the square footage of the main home. In the case of the Purcell’s, that meant the unit had to be 700n square fee tor less and it came in at 675 square feet. The appliances are state of the art, the kitchen includes a farmhouse sink and there is a combination washer and dryer in a spacious utility room.

“It has a nice walk-in shower with handrails for safety,” Moore said. “We put in luxury vinyl flooring and mini split systems for efficiency. We are still tweaking things we can do better, but this truly is beneficial for a lot of people.”

ADUs are permitted in the city limits of Milford as well as in Kent and Sussex County. In the city, the unit needs to be tied to septic and impact fees for that tie in are regulated by Kent County. Currently, the cost to hook up electric and water in the city is about $15,000 in fees. Moore as well as city officials are working with the county to create a special fee schedule for ADU’s that would lower those costs. Outside the city, Moore stated that most septic and well systems would not need to be upgraded in order to add an ADU as they are usually constructed to handle three or four bedrooms with baths.

“One of the concerns about ADUs is that people may create even more of an affordability problem by building them to use as AirBnBs,” Councilwoman Nadia Zychal said. “I suggested we create a different fee schedule if the owner plans to rent the ADU rather than have a family member live there.”

Moore stated that was an issue in beach towns where he was helping them create ordinances for ADUs. He pointed out that even if there was a different fee structure, people may still build the ADUs for rental purposes.

“In Milford, we have two ends of the spectrum, we have retirees on a fixed income and kids coming out of school that are just getting on their feet when rentals are $2,000 or more,” Mayor Todd Culotta, who was on council when the ADU ordinance was passed, said. “WE continue to build new apartments and houses but we are not addressing the true issue of affordability. This type of dwelling addresses that and provides another option for families.

Rony Baltzar-Lopez, who is running for the 36^th Representative seat and was a student of Judy’s in the 8th grade, pointed out that, as a young person, he has seen first hand how difficult it was for someone younger to find affordable housing.

“If we want more skilled professionals, if we really want to improve our healthcare system, we need to find places where these young professionals can stay that they can afford,” Baltazar-Lopez said. “We also want to bring young people to the area who want to stay and prosper, so that they will put down roots and eventually purchase a home here.”

Judy was very thankful to the city for allowing this type of dwelling in the town limits.

“Because that was the thing that opened it up for me. There just wasn’t anything affordable for me, or the size that I needed on one level, all the condos or apartments have stairs. So, it’s just it was a gift,” Judy said. “What was hard was making the decision to do that, because I wanted to stay in Milford. But there just was nothing available. And then when I started looking on the outskirts, I didn’t want to be that far away.”

Jim was also pleased at how well the project went and that his mother will remain in Milford where she is happiest.

“We’re both in a good place. It is very quiet back here, so she will have privacy when she wants it, but we are close by when she needs us,” Jim said. “We’re looking forward to having her being able to have her own space.”