Ali Ata: Missing Middle Housing Offers Walkability, Affordability, and Sense of Community

 Missing middle” describes neighborhoods composed of houses that are somewhere between high-rise apartment buildings and single-family homes. Ali Ata says cities and towns across the US are beginning to see the benefits of developing missing middle housing.    

 

The term missing middle” came from architect and urban planner Daniel Parolek in 2013, but the concept isnt new. Before the 1940s, small-scale, multi-unit housing types are found interspersed throughout neighborhoods in the US. Duplexes, triplexes, townhouses, rowhouses, and other missing middle housing types are generally built to the same scale as single-family homes, allowing them to blend discreetly among neighborhoods consisting mostly of detached units.

 

After World War II, factors such as zoning laws and changed home-buying preferences led to the popularity of single-family housing and the development of car-dependent suburbs. Ali Ata says fewer communities developed small-scale, multi-unit homes. In recent years, however, missing middle housing has grown in demand.  

 

Proponents of missing middle housing believe that it can help meet the demand for housing in urban areas without building high-rises or even mid-rises. Unlike tall, residential buildings, house-scale properties containing two or more units increase housing density without negatively affecting its livability or the aesthetics of the neighborhood its in. 

Additionally, missing middle housing development can:

              Provide housing options that are more affordable than single-family units

              Build walkable neighborhoods

              Bring more residents in to support nearby retail stores, restaurants, and transit options

              Lower rents in the community by increasing the supply of housing

Ali Ata believes that the benefits of missing middle housing make it an ideal option for homebuyers from all walks of life. Young adults, families, and older adults increasingly prefer to live in walkable, transit-oriented neighborhoods. Apart from being convenient, missing middle housing offers a strong sense of community valued by homebuyers across all demographics and income brackets.

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