Missing Middle Housing
What is Missing Middle Housing?
Missing middle housing refers to a variety of housing types that fit in with established residential neighborhoods but are comprised of diverse housing types. These housing types can include townhomes, duplexes, stacked townhomes, cottage courts, and smaller scale apartment buildings.
Approaches Met
Develop housing options for seniors to age-in-community
Missing Middle Housing provides diverse housing types, which can better meet seniors’ changing needs.
Facilitate multigenerational and shared housing
Missing Middle Housing includes forms such as stacked townhomes that can work well for multigenerational housing.
Keep seniors physically and socially connected
Missing Middle Housing can enable housing options for seniors in walkable neighborhoods.
Create a range of price options for housing
Missing Middle Housing types are more affordably priced than single family detached homes due to their smaller sizes.
Make it Happen
Communities can encourage Missing Middle Housing by including it in their comprehensive plans and permitting additional housing forms in areas currently zoned for only single family detached housing. Form based codes can be implemented to prioritize the desired density and design over use. Communities can also complete education and outreach on the benefits of Missing Middle Housing.
Missing Middle Housing in Practice
Cincinnati, OH
The city of Cincinnati capitalized on the existing stock of multiple housing types to further expand Missing Middle Housing. To do this they implemented a form based code.
West Chester, PA
Much of the historic housing in downtown West Chester provide examples of missing middle housing. Carriage housings, townhomes, stacked townhomes, and small apartment complexes are all commonly found in the Township.
Find Out More
- Missingmiddlehousing.com General information and resources for Missing Middle Housing.
- Photo Gallery: Missing Middle Housing Types, AARP Slideshow of types of Missing Middle Housing.