Housing

The missing middle

Housing and housing affordability are some of the most sensitive topics in America today. The cost of housing has continued to climb, leaving young people priced out of even the most basic homes in many markets. The only affordable options are often located on the edges of sprawling suburbs, contributing to ever-longer commutes.

The fact is that our building codes are no longer conducive to the construction of true starter homes. Zoning - which was originally conceived as a way to protect neighborhoods from truly damaging industrial uses - has metastasized into a bureaucratic labyrinth that prevents homebuilding from adapting to the changing needs of the population.

"Missing middle" housing refers to types of homes that were common in the early 20th century - duplexes and triplexes, cottage courts and small apartment buildings. Many of these can no longer legally be built, but they offer a way to bring more housing to denser neighborhoods on a small scale.