SOMA Living November 2023

REAL ESTATE

ADU – A NEW HOUSING OPTION

The COVID pandemic prompted numerous individuals to leave New York City and relocate to the New Jersey suburbs. Simultaneously, the number of people working from home increased sixfold. This shift in the workforce and workplace directly impacted the housing inventory in New Jersey and, consequently, SOMA. To meet the demand for homeownership, a handful of New Jersey townships, including Maplewood and South Orange, adopted ordinances allowing the construction of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) on existing properties. An ADU is a self-contained portion of a principal one/ two-family dwelling or an accessory structure that can function as an independent residence. ADUs are important because they benefit residents, particularly seniors wishing to downsize and remain in the SOMA community. ADUs offer families a means to earn extra income, while also providing more housing options. Restrictions and regulations govern the size, height, parking, and design of an ADU. For more information, please visit the Zoning and Building Department’s website at southorange.org/960/Accessory-Dwelling-Units. The use of ADUs presents a new solution to homeownership in New Jersey. It comes as no surprise that SOMA leads the way in helping people find a new way to live in our beautiful community.

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