People

A woman built her parents a 725-square-foot cottage in her backyard so they could be closer to their grandchildren

Patti and Gary Christie were at a crossroads in 2024.

The 74- and 75-year-olds had lived in their family home for over 40 years, raising their children there. After retiring and becoming grandparents, they were ready to sell their home, but they weren’t sure where to go next.

Their three children are spread out across the tri-state area. They liked Fairfield, Connecticut, where their daughter Caitlin Swann, 42, lived, but the houses they could afford there didn’t thrill them.

“We looked at houses, but what they would get for what they would have to pay was a little depressing,” Swann said.

Accessory Dwelling Units multigenerational
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