City Hall Plaza ADU Showcase Invites Residents to Explore New Housing Options

The Mayor’s Office of Housing today announced a public Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Showcase on City Hall Plaza, taking place May 12 through May 17. The free, weeklong event will give Boston residents the opportunity to tour a full-scale ADU and learn how these small, self-contained homes can help address the city’s housing needs.

As Boston continues to face a housing shortage, ADUs are one way to add more space to homes while maintaining the character of existing neighborhoods. Often described as “gentle density,” ADUs can create flexible living options for families, support aging in place, and offer more attainable housing choices. Internal ADUs, such as basement or attic conversions, are already allowed as-of-right citywide, while detached units may become easier to build through proposed zoning updates in select neighborhoods.

Each day from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m., the City will host informational sessions where residents can meet with housing staff to learn how ADUs can be created within existing homes or added as detached units on residential properties.

As part of the week’s programming, the City will also host an ADU Resource Fair on Saturday, May 16, from 1-5pm also on City Hall Plaza featuring approximately a dozen information booths open to the public. The fair will connect residents with professionals and organizations covering every stage of creating an ADU, including financing options including the ADU Loan program offered by the Boston Home Center, contractor selection, design considerations, and permitting guidance. The event is designed to give homeowners a clear, practical understanding of how to move from concept to construction.

“This showcase is about helping residents see what’s possible,” said Housing Innovation Lab Director, Paige Roosa. “ADUs can create practical, lower-cost housing options for families while allowing people to stay rooted in their communities. We want residents to understand how these homes work and how they could fit into their own housing plans.”

The ADU featured on City Hall Plaza demonstrates how modern, prefabricated construction can deliver high-quality housing efficiently. By showcasing a real-world example, the City aims to help residents better understand the design, livability, and benefits of these units.

Residents are encouraged to visit City Hall Plaza during the showcase week to tour the unit, attend an information session, and participate in the Saturday resource fair. Both the showcase and the resource fair are free and open to the public.

Under Mayor Wu’s leadership, Boston has made historic progress toward creating and preserving homes that residents can afford. Since the start of her first term, the City has produced or begun construction on more than 18,000 new homes, including thousands of income-restricted units, and has launched new policies to make it easier, faster, and less expensive to build housing across every neighborhood. Mayor Wu has directed record levels of investment to prevent displacement, expand affordable homeownership, and support renters and homeowners who face housing instability.

Through innovative programs like the Housing Accelerator Fund, Welcome Home Boston, and the Housing with Public Assets initiative, the City is finding new ways to create housing on public land, convert vacant buildings into homes, and support residents in building wealth and stability. The Mayor’s focus on climate and health has also made Boston a national leader in green and energy-efficient housing. Together, these efforts are helping to make Boston a city where every resident can have a safe, stable, and affordable home, and where communities can grow stronger for generations to come.