Tiny houses and compounds bring families together

{"version":"0.3.0","atoms":[],"cards":[],"markups":[["a",["href","http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Building-Boomers-McGraw-Hill-Construction-Series\/dp\/0071599819","target","_new"]],["em"],["b"],["strong"],["a",["href","http:\/\/www.kephartliving.com\/","target","_new"]]],"sections":[[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"In 2009, as Judy Schriener and I were wrapping up\nour book, "],[0,[0,1],2,"Building for Boomers"],[0,[],0,", we found much to our surprise that emerging ideas in housing were being\nonly partially fueled by the aging of the baby boomers. Family finances may\nhave had as much influence as aging, particularly when the family is supporting\ncollege students just as its older members begin to need care."]]],[1,"h3",[[0,[],0,"Quality of life"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"So many of the retirement\noptions available to people today separate families even more than our culture\nalready divides us. We have accidents, get sick now and then, and need the help\nthat only a family can give. Most people considering this phase of their life\nwould prefer to remain in their home. The latest U.S. Census data show that the\nnumber of households with three or more generations living under one roof grew\n38% from 1990 to 2000, vs. 8% for families with just two generations in one\nhome."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Yet a backyard cottage designed\nfor its accessibility can give an aging family member or returning student an\nindependent living space that is still under the protective wings of mom and\ndad."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Retirement housing is\ncostly, especially when services are included, as in assisted living or nursing\nhomes. There are myriad other senior housing forms, notably Active Adult\ncommunities where the elderly can play golf and make friends. Sometimes\nretirement expenses put the supporting boomer family in a financial crunch, so\nmany are moving into mom and dad\u2019s larger home. Others are moving\nthe kids to the basement making room for parents and grandparents on the first\nor second floors of their home."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"They are doing this to be\nable to care for their elders themselves. Problems with these older homes\ninclude the difficulties that stairs, small doors, and narrow hallways present\nto older adults, especially those who require the assistance of a walker, wheelchair\nor other device. Expensive renovation of the home may be needed."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"The \u0022tiny house\u0022 movement is\nthe biggest surprise; 100 square foot to 200 square foot houses mounted on\ntrailer frames have captured the imagination of house hunters willing to sacrifice\nspace for a simpler and less expensive lifestyle. Some zoning and building\ncodes do not apply to a house trailer, thereby saving money by avoiding permit\nfees and utility-connection fees as well as foundation costs. I\u2019ve seen construction costs for a tiny house at $45,000."]]],[1,"h3",[[0,[2],1,"Creating a family compound"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Moving a family back together\ninto one house may be the easiest and quickest way to create a compound but\nthere are issues with this. I won\u2019t dwell on problems with\nbuilding departments, zoning officials, and fearful neighbors, all of which\nwill impact your design. Several small houses and a common building can be\ngrouped on a single shared lot."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"The landplaning resembles\nco-housing communities where unrelated people share household duties. The\ncommon building may provide anything the family wants and is an accessory to\ntheir living spaces. For instance: storage of personal and family items, a\ngathering space for larger groups or family meetings, even an office, or studio\nfor the arts. Whether a kitchen may be included is often a controversial\nsubject for zoning officials. The common spaces mentioned may be included in\nthe main house instead, but the idea is to provide those things in one location\nto avoid providing duplicate functions in every separate house in the compound."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[3],1,"About the Author"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[3],1,"\n\n\n\n\n"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[1],0,"Mike Kephart retired from his\narchitectural practice in 2008 and promptly started his new business, "],[0,[4],1,"Sidekick\nHomes"],[0,[],1,". They offer designs for \u201cAccessory Dwelling units,\u201d new\nhomes that are between 400 and 800 square feet and can be built in backyards.\nHe co-authored, along with Judy Schriener, "],[0,[],0,"Building for Boomers"],[0,[1],1,", a book on housing and community\ndesign for Baby Boomers published by McGraw Hill in March 2010. Mike has been\nactively researching and writing his second book. This compilation of hiking\nlocations and trails is, on one level a guidebook to secret fishing locations,\nbut he also aspires to include personal experiences much more in the stories."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"\n\n\n\n"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"\n\n\n\n"]]]]}