Missing-Middle Models: Challenges and Innovations

Housing affordability is a critical issue that many cities and towns are facing. In the highest-cost markets, unaffordability is driving homelessness, increased housing costs, multiple-family residence in single units, and emigration to more affordable states. Even in comparably affordable markets, prices have risen steeply, putting pressure on low, moderate, and even higher-earning households. If planners and policy makers don't act with comprehensive solutions, millions of people will have to choose between stable housing and medical care, transportation, food, books, clothing, and recreation, with significant impacts on well-being and quality of life.

Missing-middle housing is an important tool to increase the supply of housing in neighborhood-scale typologies. It has applications in the subsidized, affordable-by-design, and shared-ownership housing models. This presentation examines how current economic conditions are affecting housing and the limitations of typically discussed solutions. Presenters explore innovations in missing-middle housing, including zoning and regulatory changes, resilience and sustainability, and design.

Gain a more nuanced understanding of conditions that affect affordability and cannot be addressed by planning alone. Learn about practical solutions and how to seek atypical partnerships to address this critical need.

NPC Peer Reviewers assigned this presentation a learning level of Intermediate. For more on learning-level descriptions, visit our General Information Page.