June 12, 2023
As I have discussed in previous blogs on Missing Middle housing, the term refers to diverse and attainable housing options that fit between single-family homes and large scale, high-density apartment buildings. Missing Middle has been with us for more than 100 years, but zoning beginning in the late 1920's restricted the ability to develop this type of project in most U.S. cities. Along with restrictive zoning, a general misunderstanding of Missing Middle housing has caused local communities to question its impact on property values to surrounding single-family homes. Such confusion has stalled or even halted developments from moving forward, even in communities that are in desperate need of attainable housing for rent or for sale.