Project Description: The Friends of Johnson County Developmental Supports (FJCDS) is a non-profit that works with Johnson County to provide an affordable housing solution for adults with intellectual disabilities. The organization’s homes are typically three of four bedroom homes that were purchased and renovated to house their client-tenants in a co-living situation, where living spaces are shared. The homes allow their occupants to form and sustain beneficial social bonds, while also giving county staff the ability to provide services in a home setting that can be minimized, depending on client needs. Prior to the project, FJCDS’ homes were all existing homes that the organization purchased and renovated. As the cost of existing homes in the area has escalated steeply, FJCDS decided to purchase a vacant lot and build on it. FJCDS approached the studio to develop designs for 3-bed, 2-bath units for three different sites in Merriam and Overland Park, KS. One site would be a new detached home. Another site would add an ADU to an existing house, replacing a garage. A third site was in a mixed use district and would be a multi-unit development that FJCDS envisioned would also offer short term housing with a local domestic abuse shelter. The projects would be designed around a small footprint and net zero performance, but would also need to meet criteria for universal access and in-home care needs. The homes did not need to be fully ADA-compliant.

More detail about the home may be found on the Net Positive Studio’s website.