This Tempe contest challenges designers to create plans for sustainable, affordable casitas

The city of Tempe recently received a $20,000 grant for a design initiative to address housing affordability with accessory dwelling units, known as ADUs.

ADUs — also referred to as backyard guest houses or casitas — are independent, rentable living spaces built on the same lot as a single-family home.

Tempe received the grant through the 2025 AARP Community Challenge.

“The AARP grant for the ADU Design Challenge with Tempe is Tempe's way of soliciting innovative and creative design solutions to be able to provide those back to residents at an affordable rate and kind of reduce those costs associated with developing an ADU," said Lucas Jensen, a planner with the city.

He launched the call for people to participate in the initiative.

“Right now we're soliciting submissions from qualified architects, designers, even students. The one caveat is they should be prepared to submit construction documents so that these can be approved as standard plans in the future to be featured on our webpage," he said.

The city says most of the $20,000 grant funding will go into the top ADU designs. More details on the design challenge can be found on the city of Tempe website.

Chosen designs will become part of Tempe’s Standard Plan Library where the public can review plans.