ADU HOME TOUR
WHO ATTENDED
Industry Experts
Community Advocates
Homeowners
ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS
As a part of the 2010 Denver Zoning Code update Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) were again allowed by right in a select number of neighborhoods within the City and County of Denver. ADUs, or more historically accurate “Carriage Homes” had been allowed in the distant past but had been disallowed within the city as the culture shifted to a suburban and car based economy and lifestyle post World War II. With the change in 2010 and the continued re-population and growth of our urban core it has spurned a growing trend of ADU development. This option is helping homeowners and investors realize dreams to build income, expand their living space, or just have a little extra room when the family arrives while being much less disruptive to the neighborhood fabric than other types of development.
Brought to you by Denver’s leading ADU team at L&D Construction, this one-day immersive experience covers everything you need to know about ADU development in Denver. Join construction experts, industry leading architects, and current ADU homeowners as we dive into the trends, opportunities and details behind this housing trend that is changing the landscape of Denver.Within the keynote, discussion, and site visits we will cover all of the details that come with planning and building an ADU, with deeper dives into the complex requirements on zoning, design, lot coverage and budgets. Join us to arm yourself with the tools needed to enter this exciting new space.
Our Speakers
Denver’s Accessory Dwelling Unit Experts
David Schultz
President of L&D Construction
Dave is a Colorado Native whose father has been a custom homebuilder in Colorado for 35 years. He formerly was a laborer and superintendent with Spanjer Homes (Fort Collins) from 2006-2009 and is a managing member of a family held real estate investment company.
In 2009, after getting married and moving to Denver, David started L&D Construction and began remodeling homes and building breweries throughout the urban core of Denver.
By 2015, it was clear that development and a booming population influx in Denver was here to stay for an extended period of time. As a way to add value and flexibility to his family’s lifestyle he decided to build an ADU in his backyard and then quickly realized there was real latent demand for these units in the Denver market, so in 2017 he created a segment of his business solely dedicated to this effort. Now in 2019, ADU construction is nearing 80% of the total mix of projects and expects to build 10-12 ADUs this year and 16-20 in 2020 as homeowners become more familiar with this unique development opportunity.
Sarah Senderhauf
Sales Manager & Broker of L&D Construction
Sarah grew up in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of southern Colorado. She was born into a real estate family with her Dad owning and operating a real estate business for over 35 years. She has been a Realtor in Colorado for 14 years and North Dakota for three years. Sarah worked with Conner Murphy Homes of Williston, ND from 2013-2016 selling and facilitating selections and design choices for over thirty new homes. She moved back home to Colorado in 2016 and saw an opportunity to join forces with L&D Construction and start building ADUs. She works with clients from the first idea of an ADU and throughout the entire construction process.
Sarah is very well versed in the nuances of the Denver Zoning Code regarding ADUs and is very adept at navigating the often-difficult city plan review and permitting process. Sarah is also philosophically a big proponent of smart development and feels that ADUs help keep existing neighborhoods intact while still increasing our much-needed housing stock.
Sarah Senderhauf
Sales Manager & Broker of L&D Construction
Sarah grew up in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of southern Colorado. She was born into a real estate family with her Dad owning and operating a real estate business for over 35 years. She has been a Realtor in Colorado for 14 years and North Dakota for three years. Sarah worked with Conner Murphy Homes of Williston, ND from 2013-2016 selling and facilitating selections and design choices for over thirty new homes. She moved back home to Colorado in 2016 and saw an opportunity to join forces with L&D Construction and start building ADUs. She works with clients from the first idea of an ADU and throughout the entire construction process.
Sarah is very well versed in the nuances of the Denver Zoning Code regarding ADUs and is very adept at navigating the often-difficult city plan review and permitting process. Sarah is also philosophically a big proponent of smart development and feels that ADUs help keep existing neighborhoods intact while still increasing our much-needed housing stock.
Joel Noble
Neighborhood Advocate
Joel is a long-time neighborhood advocate with a focus on planning, zoning and transportation topics. In the lead up to Denver’s new 2010 zoning code adoption, Joel promoted the inclusion of ADUs in the code and led Curtis Park’s input ensuring that ADUs, which are a feature of the neighborhood going back over a century, would once more be allowed. He is a past President of Curtis Park Neighbors and co-chaired the Blueprint Denver Task Force. He now chairs the Inter-Neighborhood Cooperation Transportation Committee, and serves as Chair of the Denver Planning Board.
Jeff Hopfenbeck
Co-Founder & CEO, Simple Homes
Jeff is the co-founder and CEO of Simple Homes, a Denver-based construction technology startup. Simple Homes’ vision is to transform the U.S. homebuilding industry using design, technology, and Scandinavian-inspired off-site construction. The company offers high-quality prefabricated homes (including ADUs) that are designed, manufactured, and assembled using a unique panelized construction system adapted from Swedish builders – where >90% of homes are built in factories today using similar methods.
A lifelong architecture and construction geek, Jeff is passionate about using technology to solve our nation’s housing affordability crisis. Prior to founding Simple Homes, Jeff worked as a consultant at McKinsey & Company, where he supported the firm’s industry 4.0 and private equity practices. Before McKinsey, Jeff worked for a number of leading social sector organizations, including the Blackstone Entrepreneurs Network, the Telluride Foundation, and El Pomar Foundation. He grew up in Denver, received his bachelor’s degree from Whitman College, and his MBA from CU’s Leeds School of Business.
Jeff Hopfenbeck
Co-Founder & CEO, Simple Homes
Jeff is the co-founder and CEO of Simple Homes, a Denver-based construction technology startup. Simple Homes’ vision is to transform the U.S. homebuilding industry using design, technology, and Scandinavian-inspired off-site construction. The company offers high-quality prefabricated homes (including ADUs) that are designed, manufactured, and assembled using a unique panelized construction system adapted from Swedish builders – where >90% of homes are built in factories today using similar methods.
A lifelong architecture and construction geek, Jeff is passionate about using technology to solve our nation’s housing affordability crisis. Prior to founding Simple Homes, Jeff worked as a consultant at McKinsey & Company, where he supported the firm’s industry 4.0 and private equity practices. Before McKinsey, Jeff worked for a number of leading social sector organizations, including the Blackstone Entrepreneurs Network, the Telluride Foundation, and El Pomar Foundation. He grew up in Denver, received his bachelor’s degree from Whitman College, and his MBA from CU’s Leeds School of Business.
TICKETS
Choose Your Pass
Self-Guided Pass
General Access to the ADU Home Tour
Afternoon Access to ADU Professionals
Self-Guided Afternoon Tour
$-
VIP Pass
Keynote & Live Q/A
VIP Exclusive Tour with L&D Construction
All Day Access to ADU Professionals
Self-Guided Afternoon Tour
$-
TOUR SPOTLIGHTS
CHECK OUT THE HOUSES WE HAVE ON TOUR
TOUR SPOTLIGHTS
CHEK OUT THE HOUSES WE HAVE ON TOUR
CALIFORNIA ST. ADU
Year Built: 2018
Lot Zoning: U-RH-2.5, UO-1, UO-2, CO-2
Garage SF: 688 SF
Living SF: 688 SF
Total Cost: $315,000
With the client’s long-term goal of occupying this ADU full time once they retire, the initial design of ADU was crucial. The idea of “aging in place” is something the clients felt was very important. They enjoy living in the Curtis Park neighborhood and wanted to be sure that the ADU was designed with that intention in mind. The ADU is currently being rented out in the short-term. Once they move into the ADU full time, they will rent out the primary residence. Historic Denver has been a big contributor in supporting projects such as the rehabilitation of the Curtis Park neighborhood, that has led to the wide spread acceptance of this type of urban development in Curtis Park.
COOK ST. ADU
Year Built: 2018
Lot Zoning: U-TU-C
Garage SF: 972 SF
Living SF: 700 SF (2 Bedroom)
Total Cost: $282,000
This location sports a two-bedroom layout (only detached ADU with two bedrooms on the tour), along with a living room that was designed to maximize the view of the mountains. The owners of this ADU are renting out this ADU in the short-term, with the long-term plan of using it as affordable housing for displaced families within the neighborhood. Being located in the Clayton neighborhood of Denver, it has great access to downtown and is only an eight-minute drive away from City Park!
COOK ST. ADU
Year Built: 2018
Lot Zoning: U-TU-C
Garage SF: 972 SF
Living SF: 700 SF (2 Bedroom)
Total Cost: $282,000
This location sports a two-bedroom layout (only detached ADU with two bedrooms on the tour), along with a living room that was designed to maximize the view of the mountains. The owners of this ADU are renting out this ADU in the short-term, with the long-term plan of using it as affordable housing for displaced families within the neighborhood. Being located in the Clayton neighborhood of Denver, it has great access to downtown and is only an eight-minute drive away from City Park!
RALEIGH ST. ADU
Year Built: 2019
Lot Zoning: U-RH-2.5
Garage SF: 456 SF
Living SF: 325 SF
Total Cost: $239,000
After the success of the first ADU owned and built by L&D’s owner David Schultz and his wife Lindsay, it made for an easy decision to include another ADU with their new single-family home. This ADU is part of a bigger development where the original lot was subdivided into three smaller lots. Each of the three lots will have a single-family home as the primary residence with two of the lots having ADUs. This ADU was panelized by Simple Homes and finished by L&D Construction.
GILPIN ST. ADU
Year Built:2019
Lot Zoning: U-SU-A1
Garage SF: 650 SF
Living SF: 488 SF
Total Cost: $258,000
Summertime entertainment, indoor/outdoor living space and short-term rental income to pay for the ADU is what this couple had in mind when designing and constructing this ADU. With this ADU located in the RiNo district of Denver, the owners plan to use this ADU primarily as a short-term rental. When the ADU is not being occupied by short term renters, it will also serve as a space for family, friends and workshop space. One of the most prominent entertaining features of this build is the glass overhead door that opens from the garage into the backyard allowing those summer BBQ’s to stretch into the fall and get started earlier in the spring!
GILPIN ST. ADU
Year Built:2019
Lot Zoning: U-SU-A1
Garage SF: 650 SF
Living SF: 488 SF
Total Cost: $258,000
Summertime entertainment, indoor/outdoor living space and short-term rental income to pay for the ADU is what this couple had in mind when designing and constructing this ADU. With this ADU located in the RiNo district of Denver, the owners plan to use this ADU primarily as a short-term rental. When the ADU is not being occupied by short term renters, it will also serve as a space for family, friends and workshop space. One of the most prominent entertaining features of this build is the glass overhead door that opens from the garage into the backyard allowing those summer BBQ’s to stretch into the fall and get started earlier in the spring!
ALCOTT ST. ADU
Year Built: 2019
Lot Zoning: U-TU-C
Garage SF: 855 SF
Living SF: 641 SF
Total Cost: $260,000
This was a location that was featured on last year’s tour and is back by popular demand. Over the last 12 months, these owners have been renting out their ADU with great success! Originally these homeowners were in the market for a larger garage and workshop space, but since they were also zoned for an ADU, they decided to add some living space for rental income as well as to provide a space for family and friends to stay. These owners have also discussed that the ADU will be a great option to live in while doing remodeling projects on their main house. We’re betting they may not move out of the ADU!
SIMPLE HOMES MANUFACTURING FACILITY
Year Est: 2019
Manufacturing SF: 19,000 SF
Production Capacity: 150 units/yr
This unique location is a classically restored 1922 Blacksmith Shop building built by the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Rail Road as part of a steam engine locomotive repair facility.
This location sports 19,000 SF of manufacturing space and will be the primary manufacturing location for Simple Homes where they will support building up to 150 units/year out of this facility. These units are manufactured panels with exterior cladding, windows/doors, insulation, and rough-in plumbing and electrical pre-installed. These units are then assembled rapidly on-site, and finish work is then completed by L&D Construction. The Raleigh Street ADU was panelized by Simple Homes.
**On the day of the ADU Home Tour you will need to check in at the guard station for directions to the facility entrance.
SIMPLE HOMES MANUFACTURING FACILITY
Year Est: 2019
Manufacturing SF: 19,000 SF
Production Capacity: 150 units/yr
This unique location is a classically restored 1922 Blacksmith Shop building built by the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Rail Road as part of a steam engine locomotive repair facility.
This location sports 19,000 SF of manufacturing space and will be the primary manufacturing location for Simple Homes where they will support building up to 150 units/year out of this facility. These units are manufactured panels with exterior cladding, windows/doors, insulation, and rough-in plumbing and electrical pre-installed. These units are then assembled rapidly on-site, and finish work is then completed by L&D Construction. The Raleigh Street ADU was panelized by Simple Homes.
**On the day of the ADU Home Tour you will need to check in at the guard station for directions to the facility entrance.
SOUTH SHERMAN ST. ADU
Year Built: 2019
Lot Zoning: U-SU-B1
Garage SF: 864 SF
Living SF: 648 SF
Total Cost: $296,000
Leading up to this ADU project being kicked off, these owners were living in Amsterdam, where they got the inspiration for smaller, more efficient living spaces. After seeing some of the other ADUs L&D built, they decided to move forward with designing and building their own. A primary driver for this Platt Park ADU was the outdoor yard space. The owners wanted to be sure that the ADU and main residence would complement each other to ensure the main house and ADU would function as a whole. In the garage, they will use the 3rd bay as a yoga studio. The short-term plan will be to rent out this ADU, with future possibilities of housing one of their parents or the owners themselves moving into the ADU full time.
CURTIS ST. 2ND FLOOR ADU CONVERSION
Year Converted: 1995
Lot Zoning: U-RH-2.5, CO-2
Living SF: 1100 SF This location is a 2 bedroom, 1 bath design
This corner lot is located in the historic Curtis Park overlay. This location was converted when the owner moved into it 24 years ago. Once the City of Denver approved ADUs, the apartment was then classified as an ADU. When talking about affordability through ADUs, converting a 2nd level or basement can be a good option, as it is the least expensive way to build. This ADU owner rents out the location as a short-term rental, where the tenant has a dedicated access point on the south side of the property.
CURTIS ST. 2ND FLOOR ADU CONVERSION
Year Converted: 1995
Lot Zoning: U-RH-2.5, CO-2
Living SF: 1100 SF This location is a 2 bedroom, 1 bath design
This corner lot is located in the historic Curtis Park overlay. This location was converted when the owner moved into it 24 years ago. Once the City of Denver approved ADUs, the apartment was then classified as an ADU. When talking about affordability through ADUs, converting a 2nd level or basement can be a good option, as it is the least expensive way to build. This ADU owner rents out the location as a short-term rental, where the tenant has a dedicated access point on the south side of the property.
WEST 40TH ST. ADU
Year Built: 2019
Lot Zoning: U-TU-C
Garage SF: 420 SF
Living SF: 2200 SF
Total Cost: $550,000
While most neighborhoods in Denver were built with rectangular blocks, this area of town has square blocks with a “carriage lot” in the middle. Back in 1872 when the Potter Highlands was plotted, it was laid out in square blocks rather than the rectangular ones that predominate the Denver street grid. This arrangement allowed for houses to face all adjacent streets and to contain a carriage lot (or carriage turnaround) in the center of the block. This location is classified as a “traditional carriage lot”. Traditional carriage lots fall under different zoning laws that allow for more square footage. This makes this location feel more like a single-family home rather than some of the other ADUs you will see on this tour. The owners of this location will live in the ADU and create a guest suite in the garage space to use as a short-term rental. At the time of the tour, this ADU will be under construction.
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