Meet Adam Wall | Managing Partner at Atlanta ADU CO

We had the good fortune of connecting with Adam Wall and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Adam, how does your business help the community?
In Atlanta and in other cities around the country, demand for housing is fast outpacing the supply, particularly the demand for affordable housing. At the same time, we are seeing the negative effects of existing single-family zoning regulations that limit the character, scale, and number of allowable units in our neighborhoods. This is where we come in – ADUs boost housing supply without adversely affecting the scale and character of a neighborhood. An ADU’s compact size, minimal utility footprint, and minor maintenance requirements make them inherently affordable to build and operate. They offer a solution as an affordable housing option for those making 80% or less of the Area Median Income (AMI). We are proud to be on the positive side of change in promoting and providing affordable housing that can work for everyone.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
We started ATL ADU CO in 2017 when the City of Atlanta zoning ordinance was being amended to allow Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) in a large portion of the single-family properties in town. We are endlessly inspired by the broad benefits of ADUs, so we started a company to meet what we considered an unmet need. Having an ADU in your backyard is advantageous for a number of reasons – it can expand your current living space, add value to your existing property, serve as a source of extra income if rented, or function as a separate but nearby home for an aging parent.

The first challenge was getting the word out and educating the community on what an ADU actually is. ADU stands for Accessory Dwelling Unit. They are commonly known as carriage houses, cottages, or in-law suites. It is a small, detached living structure located behind the primary residence on a lot, and includes a kitchen, bedroom(s), and bathroom(s).

Typically, if a homeowner desires to build an ADU on their property, they first need to secure the design expertise of an architect who is familiar with the local zoning. They would then need to find a contractor who is interested in taking on a small project to provide a construction estimate for the design. After acquiring the ADU design and a willing contractor, the homeowner would then need to navigate the permitting and building process with their local jurisdiction. Needless to say, approaching the process in this manner is a significant amount of work for the homeowner!

We decided to craft our Design/Build/Deliver service to make the process as simple and painless as possible for clients -from start to finish. We have a portfolio of tested, pre-designed plans as well as an experienced team that gives us the ability to deliver a high-quality finished product within a reasonable time frame at a highly competitive cost.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Any of the restaurant options along Buford highway are worth it! You can truly experience the world’s cuisine right in Atlanta’s backyard. The High Museum is amazing and it’s always a fun time to simply explore the quaint Atlanta neighborhoods on foot or on bike.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Sure, I would say The Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU) – Their mission is to champion walkable urbanism, and create socially just, economically robust, and environmentally resilient, people centered places. As a member of CNU, we leverage their design and social principles to advance this mission to build places people love. They are a wonderful advocate and resource for small businesses like ours!

Website: atladuco.com

Instagram: instagram.com/atladuco/

Facebook: facebook.com/atladuco/