As we age, our needs change. Help kick start change in your community!

North Dakotans want to see improvements to the walkability of their neighborhoods as well as a variety of housing and transportation options near jobs, schools and public spaces. A key element of creating strong neighborhoods in something we call missing middle housing – a set of residential building types that bridge single-family houses and large apartment buildings. By incorporating missing middle housing into neighborhoods, North Dakota will address an issue relevant to citizens of all ages.

Attend our webinars to learn more about how you can help:

• Legalizing Smaller & More Affordable Housing, Monday, July 28 from 11:30 a.m. – 1p.m. This webinar will be presented via Zoom presented by ECONorthwest and is for city leaders, planners, developers and more.
• What’s Missing? Housing, Local Advocacy & You! Tuesday, July 29 from 11;30 a.m. – 1p.m. This webinar will be presented via Zoom presented by Smart Growth American and is designed to show residents how to engage with their community to address missing middle housing.

AARP North Dakota has already made tremendous progress towards creating more livable communities. Learn more about some of our recent efforts:

• New Housing on the Block: Missing Middle Housing Design Competition
  AARP North Dakota in collaboration with RL Mace Universal Design Institute to launch the state’s first missing middle housing design competition in 2024.
• Missing Middle Housing Walking Tour
  A 1.5-mile walking tour for community leaders to explore options for how to expand the housing options for older adults who want to age in their homes, and for all residents.
• Community Challenge Grants
  An investment of $74,686 towards quick-action projects that help communities increase livability in North Dakota through improvements to public spaces, transportation, housing, digital connections and more.
• Bismarck Block Party
  Transforming Wachter Park into a free pop-up event equipped with fun activities for all ages and programming related to livability to bring the neighborhood together. Check out the video of the 2024 Bismarck Block Party at North Central Park!

Learn more about Livable Community efforts across the nation.