Gone are the days when living with your extended family meant overcrowded dining tables at every meal. Welcome to the era of the Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU), better known to some as granny flats or backyard bungalows, which are changing the way we think about housing configurations and urban space. Never heard of an ADU? Picture a cozy little cottage tucked away in your backyard—that’s an ADU. These aren’t just tiny houses; they’re a revolutionary step towards solving the urban crunch. Let’s stroll through Raleigh, North Carolina, where ADUs are gaining popularity, transforming how families and communities thrive together within urban environments. In Raleigh, embracing the ADU trend isn’t new. In a move to tackle the housing affordability crisis head-on, Raleigh allowed ADUs by-right (that’s planner speak for ‘no need to jump through extra governmental hoops’). The benefits? Let’s count them: increased housing stock, multi-generational living without the feeling of being cramped, and a unique way to keep our loved ones close, yet independent. Take Sara and Lee Stein for example, who built a 940-square-foot ADU for Sara’s aging parents right in their side yard. This isn’t just about keeping family close. It’s about reimagining our living spaces to foster community and support at various life stages, making it especially appealing for the ‘sandwich generation’—those who care both for their aging parents and still support their children. Interestingly, Raleigh isn’t the only city catching on. Neighboring towns like Durham and Chapel Hill are hopping aboard the ADU train, each with their nuances in regulations and offerings. This rising trend helps declutter our main living spaces (bye-bye, old storage sheds and unused backyard spaces!), while adding value both financially and personally. What does this mean for urban development? For starters, it’s a step away from the traditional sprawling suburbia model. ADUs promote a denser, more efficient use of urban land—with a twist of charming design that doesn’t overpower existing neighborhood aesthetics. Suddenly, single-family zones are doubled up with functional, livable spaces minus the eye-sore of towering complexes. The implications are huge. We tackle the severe housing shortages without losing the ‘neighborhood feel,’ reduce urban sprawl, and yes, trim down those notorious commutes by reintegrating living and working spaces closer together. As cities grow, solutions like ADUs hold the keys not just to housing, but to sustainable city living — aligning comfort with convenience and care. Who knew that solution could quite literally be in our own backyards?