NEWTON, MA — City officials announced their intentions to use a newly awarded AARP Community Challenge grant to help make it easier and less expensive for homeowners to build accessory dwelling units.
The grant will allow the city's Planning and Development Department to work with the Cooper Center, residents and other stakeholders to launch an ADU Design Competition. The effort will produce a selection of plans created by licensed architects that homeowners can use without paying to have custom architectural drawings prepared. According to AARP, the city also plans to pursue pre-approval of the winning designs to further streamline the permitting process.
The funding will also support a review of Newton's permitting process for ADUs and other residential projects. Planning staff will examine ways to simplify approvals and reduce barriers in an effort to make construction projects faster, easier and less expensive for homeowners.
"We just received an AARP Community Challenge grant which will help make it easier and more affordable to build Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) in Newton," Mayor Marc Laredo said in announcing the award.
Accessory dwelling units, sometimes called in-law suites, carriage houses, or accessory apartments, are self-contained living spaces located either within an existing home or in a smaller detached structure on the same property. City officials said the units can provide housing for multigenerational families, older adults aging in place, caregivers and renters seeking a more affordable housing option.
The grant builds on Newton's recent efforts to expand housing options through accessory dwelling units. Earlier this year, the City Council adopted updated zoning regulations to align with Massachusetts' statewide ADU law, which took effect in February 2025 and allows many homeowners to build an accessory dwelling unit by right, subject to local zoning requirements. City officials have said the changes are intended to increase housing choices while preserving neighborhood character and making it easier for residents to remain in their homes as they age.
Newton's project also mirrors a broader statewide initiative. Earlier this year, the Healey administration completed the Massachusetts ADU Design Challenge, which produced free architect-designed plans intended to reduce design costs and simplify the construction process for homeowners interested in building an accessory dwelling unit.
Newton was one of 17 Massachusetts communities and organizations selected to receive funding through AARP's 2026 Community Challenge grant program. The grants support projects that improve livability, with this year's Massachusetts recipients undertaking initiatives focused on housing, transportation, accessibility and public spaces.
The 2026 awards mark the 10th year of the AARP Community Challenge program. Since its launch in 2017, AARP has awarded more than 2,100 grants totaling $24.3 million to communities across the country for projects designed to produce visible improvements in a relatively short period of time.
See Also:
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Newton Mayoral Aide Receives Commonwealth Pride Award
Construction On Newtonville MBTA Station To Begin This Fall
Advocacy Group Alleges Anti-Muslim Campaign After Newton Eid Celebration
Newton Nonprofit Receives Statewide Grant Funding
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