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More than 90% of seniors say they want to age in place. But, according to Kevin Casey of New Avenue, that doesn’t mean they want to continue to take care of a big yard and a four-bedroom home. A solution is the backyard cottage, an example of which Casey demonstrated with a full-size model at the 2011 Pacific Coast Builders Conference.

In our conversation today, Casey describes how Boomer parents can move into a cottage in their own backyard, while their adult children take over the home. This allows for connections across the generations and, at the same time, gives everyone personal space.

This is our final segment on backyard cottages. The entire series of interviews with Kevin Casey is available on Facebook or iTunes. Log on next week, as we begin a conversation with Jane Warner, President and CEO of the American Lung Association of California. The topic:  the impacts of air quality on quality of life.

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The notion of using the yards of established neighborhoods for small dwelling units makes a lot of social and sustainable sense. A well-insulated cottage in the back of an existing home can help connect friends and family, and is also more energy-efficient because of its size.

For all its virtues, the concept has some barriers. According to Kevin Casey, Founder and CEO of New Avenue, the hurdle to “accessory dwellings” comes from the municipalities in terms of fees. Zoning permits, building permits and, in some cities, fees for traffic, sidewalks, schools, etc, can range anywhere from $3,000 to $50,000.

In this week’s segment, Casey breaks the process of building an accessory dwelling into three steps: Conceptual design, construction documents and—last and most fun—construction.

Our series on small cottages continues next week. The Real Story is available on Facebook. Be sure to “like” us, and our podcasts will appear on your news feed.

Rendering courtesy of New Avenue.

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Two big showstoppers at the 2011 Pacific Coast Builders Conference were, in fact, small. New Avenue, a full-service small home provider, had two of its cottage residences on display. In today’s post, we talk with New Avenue founder and CEO, Kevin Casey about the WHY behind his commitment to these efficient backyard residences.

Sometimes called “accessory homes”, the New Avenue line of cottages range in size from a 300-squre foot studio to an 800-square foot 3 bedroom home. The product design is driven by a scarcity of available land close to transportation, work centers and transit. Casey’s notion is to put two homes on a lot in some of our desirable suburban areas, increasing density, yet allowing for a high degree of individuality.

We’ll be posting a new segment of this interview every week in September, so be sure to log on. If you “like” us on Facebook, the posts will be delivered right to your News Feed.

Rendering: Courtesy of New Avenue

The Real Story is taking this week off. Log on next week for the premiere of our three-part series on backyard cottages.