On March 13, 2023, Montclair’s Ordinance O-22-27 allowing construction of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU’s) went into effect. Homeowners will be permitted to erect accessory dwellings to single family homes. ADU’s will be permitted on one, and two-family dwellings in the R-O, R-0(A), R-1, and R-2 Zones.
Now that Montclair has joined its NJ neighbors of Princeton and Maplewood in this progressive housing legislation, the challenge is how to design an ADU that is consistent with the needs of the homeowner, compliant with terms of local ordinance(s), and which adds value to the community. To respond to this challenge, The Partners for Health Foundation awarded Montclair Gateway to Aging in Place a grant to organize an ADU Design Competition with local Schools of Architecture. New Jersey Institute of Technology has already agreed to participate. The mGAP ADU Design Competition Organizing Committee will invite other regional Schools of Architecture to participate.
The mGAP ADU Design Competition Organizing Committee will be publishing its ADU Competition Call-Out soon,. The Call-Out will include design specifications and deadlines. Submitted designs will be required to reflect local ordinance specifications. Competitors will be able to attend a design day kick off in May. and it is expected that portfolios will be submitted no later than September 27, 2023. A selected panel of judges will pick winners and runner-up’s. In October, 2023, the Competition award ceremony will be held at NJIT.