AARP Volunteers Enter Gingerbread Creation in Competition

Pittsburgh-area AARP volunteers Beth Tomasovic, Cheryl Lenhart, and Terry Gerst used their design skills to create a “Missing Middle Housing Cottage Court” for the City of Pittsburgh’s 21st Annual Gingerbread Competition. Missing Middle Housing is a range of house-scale buildings with multiple units, such as duplexes, fourplexes, cottage courts, and multiplexes, situated in residential, walkable neighborhoods close to schools, jobs, shopping, entertainment, and public transportation. Current regulations in many communities do not allow middle housing in lower-density residential zones, hence the phrase “missing middle housing” referring to the lack of these housing options.

The goal of the gingerbread “Missing Middle Housing Cottage Court” is to educate community members on how these types of housing alternatives can help increase affordable housing options for 50+ adults and their families.

AARP works with local elected officials, community leaders, and Pittsburgh residents to provide education on housing accessibility and affordability to make Pittsburgh a more livable community for people of all ages and abilities, which is crucial to the majority of Americans who say they would like to remain in their homes as they age.

Online voting for the Gingerbread Competition’s People’s Choice Award is still open. To lend your support to fellow volunteers and AARP Pittsburgh, vote here by Dec. 31st. For category, choose “Nonprofit 18+” and then select the first choice on the list to vote for the “Missing Middle Housing Cottage Court” from AARP Pittsburgh.

All gingerbread designs entered in the competition are on display in the City-County Building, 414 Grant Street, Pittsburgh until January 5th.