TICONDEROGA — A statewide program aimed at assisting homeowners in building accessory dwelling units will be coming to the North Country for the first time this spring. Residents of Essex, Warren and Washington counties will be able to apply for grants up to $125,000 to help build ADUs, or bring existing ones into compliance.

This program will be through the North Country Rural Development Coalition and Essex County Land Bank, which were recently awarded $1.5 million from the New York State Plus One ADU Program, administered by NYS Homes and Community Renewal and the Housing Trust Fund Corporation.

Nicole Justice Green, the executive director of both NRDC and ECLB, said this program has already succeeded in providing more affordable housing in New York and other states, through similar initiatives. The Plus One program was launched in New York in 2023 and this year represents the third round of funding. Applications will open in May.

“The state’s goal behind this program is to not only create more housing units but to ensure they are long-term rentals for people who are working and living in that area,” Green said.

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About the program

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ADUs can take a variety of forms, such as garage conversions, separate cottages or in-law suites. To be eligible for this program, applicants must live full-time on the property they plan to build the ADU on. Property owners must also commit to maintaining the ADU as a long-term rental, or at least as housing for family members, for at least 10 years. They cannot be used as short-term rentals, and NRDC/ECLB will be providing oversight to make sure this commitment is kept.

Green said the state rules around this program can be a bit confusing, and that anyone interested should give them a call.

“When in doubt, please call us if you want to apply,” she said. “Please don’t read the guidelines and assume you’re not eligible. We really prefer to talk with everyone.”

These ADUs must also comply with local and state permitting and zoning. Green said some communities in the Adirondacks don’t allow ADUs, and these regulations are something the NCRDC will be encouraging communities to consider revising.

Green said the Plus One ADU program is very flexible and responsive to the needs of the communities. After all, ADUs that work well on Long Island probably won’t look like the ones that are suited to communities in rural areas of the Adirondacks. However, she said ADUs are a promising venture in the region for a few reasons.

In the North Country, development outside hamlets is heavily limited by regulations, and there is often a lack of infrastructure inside hamlets. ADUs offer an answer to both situations. They make use of the infrastructure and zoning that already exist and are often much less expensive to build.

“It’s a very unique program, and it is not a one-size-fits-all copy and paste,” Green said. “There is that creative nimbleness, so to speak, in creating an ADU program that is going to work for the North Country.”

For this round of funding, Green estimates they’ll be able to fund nine or 10 projects. However, anyone who is interested is encouraged to get in touch with NCRD/ECLB. The organization is still working on fine-tuning the application process, but once they do, there will be a waitlist. People on the waitlist will have opportunities for future rounds of funding.

Green hopes that the program will be successful and that the volume of interest can help secure future funding from the state. She also expects future funding could include more of the North Country: Franklin, Clinton and Hamilton counties.

“If we can demonstrate demand and interest, then that basically garners additional support for us to receive additional funding for this program,” Green said.

Homeowners interested in pre-registering for the program or receiving updates can email info@northcountryruraldevelopment.org or call Nicky TeRiele at 518-585-6366. Updates on the program will be announced on their website, northcountryruraldevelopment.org, and their Facebook page.