Brad: Converted Rec Room Becomes Flexible Housing
I grew up in a sailing family – my father bought a sailboat within a year of coming home from World War II – and many of my first memories were of sailing in Newport Harbor. I sailed professionally when I was younger, back and forth across the Atlantic, and when I returned Istarted a boat charter business in Newport Harbor.
I bought this house in Newport Heights in 1986. It was a relatively large lot with a main home and a small 15’x20’ building in the back, with no bathroom. It was basically a little better than a shed. In the late 1980s I upgraded the building by adding a bathroom, and it was permitted as a recreation room (which ensured no one was living there).
In about 2020, I decided to convert the building into an ADU. Even though I’ve been a City Councilmember since 2016, the process was more involved than I expected – especially to bring the building up to code. We had to upgrade the foundation, replace the water heater, upgrade wiring, etc. It was a challenging process, but I would do it again.
My ADU is currently occupied by a young family member living in the unit while working and going to school, trying to save up a down payment to purchase their own home. Their situation has really informed me about how difficult it can be for young people to find local housing. They want independence and they’re working hard, and we’re glad we can help them with somewhere to live while they save.
“The real value of the ADU is the flexibility – you can rent it out, you can use it as a guest house, you can use it for various purposes.”
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|---|---|
| Location | Newport Heights |
| ADU Type | Converted Accessory Building |
| Price | $12,500 |
| Year completed | 2020 |
| Time | 12 months |
| Size | 424 square feet |
