AARP Volunteers Design “Housing for All Ages” Lego Village

Pittsburgh-area AARP volunteers Beth Tomasovic, Cheryl Lenhart, Terry Gerst, and Cathy Schwartzmiller used their design skills to create a “Housing for All Ages” Gingerbread-Inspired lego village for the City of Pittsburgh’s 23^rd Annual Gingerbread Competition.

The lego creation offers a reminder of what it means to live in a community with housing options designed for people of all ages. Through their entry, the volunteers creatively showcased diverse types of "Missing Middle Housing" – which is a set of residential building types which are often moderately priced that exist in the middle of the continuum from detached single-family houses to large apartment buildings. "Missing Middle Housing" types provide the size and affordability options that people of all ages — including older adults — very much need but often can’t find.

The volunteers even took the time to showcase an Accessory Dwelling Unit, a small house or apartment that exists on the same property lot as a single-family residence but still provides separate living and independent quarters. ADU legislation is currently being considered by the city as these properties tend to be smaller and more affordable than single-family houses, and can be a good housing option for older adults who want to downsize but still live in a neighborhood setting.

This delightful design is more than just a festive display—it’s a celebration of AARP’s mission to foster thriving communities and housing options for everyone, regardless of age.

AARP Livable Communities supports the efforts of neighborhoods, towns, rural areas, and cities like Pittsburgh to be great places for people of all ages and the volunteers wanted to educate community members of the importance of this initiative. AARP believes that communities should provide safe, walkable streets, age-friendly housing and transportation options. access to needed services, and opportunities for residents of all ages to participate in community life. AARP and our volunteers work locally to educate and inspire elected officials, local leaders, planners and citizen activists about how to identify their community's specific needs and then create and implement the programs, policies and projects that will help meet those needs. This work is crucial to the majority of Americans who say they would like to remain in their homes as they age.

This year, AARP’s local efforts to promote livable communities has involved a campaign on “5 Reasons Pittsburgh Should Care About ADUs” as well as additional efforts to support interim housing and increased pedestrian safety efforts in the City of Pittsburgh. AARP’s work, led by a core group of over 50 volunteers, helps to ensure the needs of adults 50+ are taken into consideration in local planning.

Online voting for the City of Pittsburgh Gingerbread Competition’s People’s Choice Award is now open! To lend your support to AARP Pittsburgh and to making our city more livable for all, vote here by Dec. 31st. Locate the “2025 People’s Choice Award” voting button on the page. For category, choose “Nonprofit 18+” and then select the first choice on the list to vote for the “AARP Housing for All Ages Lego Village” from AARP Pittsburgh.

All gingerbread designs entered in the competition are on display in the City-County Building, 414 Grant Street, Pittsburgh until early January 2026.