Missing Middle Housing

The term “missing middle housing” describes a range of multi-family or clustered housing types that are compatible in scale with single-family or transitional neighborhoods. It is meant to meet the demand for neighborhoods that are easy to get around on foot, adapt to changes in population, and provide housing at different price points. Some examples of missing middle housing are duplexes, fourplexes, cottage courts, and multiplexes.

Missing middle housing can help increase the number of homes, produce more affordable housing options, increase density, make it easier to get around on foot, and give people more housing choices. Missing middle housing can help with both building more units and building units with a wide range of prices. Missing middle housing can meet an increasing diversity of income, households, and generational needs.

One of the main benefits of missing middle housing is that it can expand the supply of affordable housing. According to Local Housing Solutions, missing middle housing types are generally more affordable than single-family homes because they have lower per-unit construction and land costs. Missing middle housing can also give renters and homeowners more options if they can't afford a single-family home or don't want one. By increasing the availability and diversity of housing units, missing middle housing can help address the housing affordability crisis that many communities face.

Another benefit of missing middle housing is that it can encourage residential density and walkability. Local Housing Solutions says that missing middle housing can help to increase the number of people living in single-family neighborhoods in a way that doesn't change their character or size. This can make neighborhoods smaller and more mixed-use, which can help public transportation, make people less reliant on cars, and encourage walking and biking. Missing middle housing can also help people who live close to each other feel like they are part of a community and make friends.

In conclusion, “missing middle housing” is a term that describes a range of housing types that can fit in between single-family homes and large apartment buildings. Missing middle housing can help communities in many ways, such as by increasing the supply and affordability of housing, making neighborhoods denser and easier to get around on foot, and giving residents more diverse and inclusive housing options. Missing middle housing can help meet the changing needs and preferences of today’s households and create more livable and sustainable places for everyone. So, it's important to support policies and practices that help our cities and towns build more "missing middle" housing.

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