Anchorage, Alaska, has been looking for solutions to address its ongoing housing shortage.

This spring, the Municipality of Anchorage announced the Pre-Approved Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) initiative to make it easier for the public to develop housing in the area. The city tapped Seattle-based architecture practice workshop AD and Alaska-based firm WILMWORKS for two designs. The plans are free to the public. 

The Williwaw ADU by workshop AD is a 2-story unit. The first story includes a two-car garage and entryway leading to the second story containing the bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen in addition to a living/dining space and small corner office.

WILMWORK’s Nearpoint ADU is a vaulted, 460-square-foot, one-bedroom unit with an optional interior package by Alaska based Tori Hickel Design. 

“I just want young people to be able to stay in Anchorage and live here,” said Clare Ross, a representative for the Anchorage assembly legislative services office. “That means we have to have a variety of houses. We need more apartment buildings. We need more single family homes, and we need more ADUs.”

The department created a checklist that walks Anchorage residents through the development of building an ADU, including the cost of each step of the process. While items such as construction permits and land evaluations must be obtained and determined independently, estimates for materials costs can be expected by this summer. 

This summer, additional designs will be released; they were drawn up by an engineering class at the University of Alaska Anchorage. If the program proves to be successful, even more designs may be pursued, including plans for other types of housing. 

In 2023, the Anchorage Assembly amended land use plans that set the initial, crucial, pathways to allow for this initiative. ADUs are a part of a larger scope, with the municipality’s outlined housing goal to reach 10,000 overall units in 10 years. 

Anchorage is the latest city to launch an ADU program; other U.S. cities trialling the typology include New York City and, more recently Boise, Idaho.