Planning for Attractive Homes — Missing Middle Housing

Attractive Homes are designed, constructed, and maintained to be compatible with local community character. This guide explores missing middle housing, a concept of creating multi-unit housing forms at appropriate scales in walkable neighborhoods.

Low Density

Medium Density

What is Missing Middle Housing?

Daniel Parolek coined the term "Missing Middle Housing" to describe the lack of medium scale housing witnessed in many communities. Parolek defined missing middle housing as "a range of house-scale buildings with multiple units — compatible in scale and form with detached single-family homes — located in a walkable neighborhood." Since inception, the concept has been endorsed by communities across the country as well as organizations such as AARP. Missing middle housing can be mixed-in with single-family housing forms, or higher density non-residential areas, to create a diversity of housing choices for residents. In many cases missing middle housing looks like single-family housing from the exterior.

As described on their website, the word "Missing" is used as the housing is currently prohibited to build since the 1940's — in many places due to zoning restrictions. The word "Middle" is used as the housing exists on a spectrum between single family detached units and mid and high-rise apartment buildings.

Parolek identified nine housing types as missing middle housing; Duplex (side-by-side), Duplex (stacked), Fourplex (stacked), Courtyard Building, Cottage Court, Townhouse, Multiplex (Medium), Triplex (stacked), and Live-Work. These building types must be appropriately scaled, designed, and located to be considered missing middle housing. For example, although townhomes can be missing middle housing, large townhomes, or townhomes outside of walkable neighborhoods would not be considered missing middle housing.

Challenges

Changing demographics, rising housing costs, zoning restrictions, and resident oppositions have hindered the development of missing middle housing forms. Learn More

Opportunities

The Chester County Planning Commission identifies twelve missing middle housing types which currently exist and are appropriate to fit the needs in the county. Learn More

Get Started

Municipalities can take action to address market demand, zoning restrictions, and resident opposition. Learn More

Data

The Chester County Planning Commission documented where missing middle housing is permitted in the county's suburban and urban center landscapes. Learn More