ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT (ADU) CONSULTING
CURRENTLY LEASED. 609 sq ft Detached 1 bed/1 bath rental unit in the center of
Los Angeles, California
CURRENTLY LEASED. 609 sq ft Detached 1 bed/1 bath rental unit in the center of
Los Angeles, California
Close to the places you frequent most in the heart of LA.
In Los Angeles, the cost to rent, buy and even build new homes has skyrocketed as the metro area has seen incredible job creation and population growth. The ADU (accessory dwelling unit) has become a real opportunity for both current and potential homeowners as another option for sustaining, or even joining the ranks of homeowners while also providing much needed housing for the metro area.
On January 1, 2018, the California Legislature implemented new ADU guidelines to simplify and improve byzantine state ADU provisions, helping promote the development of new ADUs on properties with single family homes. With these new guidelines and incentives in-hand, the owners--Aaron who works in real estate and Isaac who works in entertainment—designed and built a 609-square-foot backyard rental unit to complement the existing 1912 year-old craftsman style bungalow, with maintaining property value and increasing neighborhood density in mind.
Initially drawn and designed by Isaac and Aaron, they enlisted architectural services firm AGD Architects, founded by Angelica Galvez in Long Beach, California on the final structural and design elements.
Casita Mascot, is named after the street on which it is located. “We designed the unit with our neighborhood in mind,” says Aaron, who performed the pro forma analysis for the development. “This is an urban neighborhood in central Los Angeles, so this unit is built with an urban tenant in mind--this is in essence micro-urban-infill. Our cities are becoming more dense, and housing is at a premium in some places; Los Angeles will benefit from much more of this kind of development considering our congested roads filled with commuters today. People should have more options to live closer to where they work or the city center.”
The focus of the creative design strategy was building a large enough structure within a small area to be comfortable and have ample natural light. The existing home on the property is a 1,120 sf California bungalow done in craftsman style, so the aesthetic of the ADU is meant to complement the design of the main house. Says Isaac, “We wanted to keep the design simple but interesting with the peaked roof and transom windows. We think it makes for an interesting interior that still feels spacious. Also, in a city where most tenant’s lack outdoor personal space, the rear terrace is a real bonus--there’s even a Loquat tree that fruits in the summer.”
By county guidelines the unit had to be one half the square footage of the main house.
They partnered with CPC Builders, Inc. of Burbank, California who oversaw the construction process and scheduling tasks. "We built this as an example development to encourage other property owners to invest in areas they may not have imagined, or to influence prospective buyers who are on the sidelines. The ADU also offers a real solution to the idea of downsizing or living a more clutter-free lifestyle" says Aaron.
