In this article we will explore what middle housing is and what it can look like, along with the impacts it can have on a\u00a0neighborhood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/powerhouse-designs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Missing-Middle-Housing-Diagram-1024x283.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nPhoto Credit: Opticos Design<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n So, what is middle housing anyways? The WA Department of Commerce<\/a> defines middle housing as \u201chouse-scale buildings with multiple units in residential neighborhoods.\u201d That means, any housing structure that is any kind of -plex housing like a duplex or triplex, townhouses, courtyard apartments, cottage homes. \u201cMiddle\u201d refers to middle-density housing, as opposed to large apartment complexes which are considered high-density housing, and single-family homes which is considered low-density.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You may still be thinking, \u201cWell, I certainly don\u2019t want a fourplex in my neighborhood! It\u2019s going to stick out like a sore thumb<\/em>.\u201d Which is an understandable opinion, especially if you\u2019ve only ever seen -plexes that look like your typical apartment complex. But they don\u2019t have to look like that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the changing needs of our population, large single-family homes are becoming more and more unnecessary and unaffordable for most people (see our last blog<\/a> on the statistics). But also we don\u2019t want to tear down beautiful historic homes, or homes that are generally in good condition. So, what about renovating the inside of these preexisting 2000+ square foot homes and splitting them into multiple single- or two-bedroom units, thereby creating a -plex house? It still keeps the same exterior integrity, matching the rest of the neighborhood and you won\u2019t even be able to tell that there are multiple units inside. A scenario like this is also the best case in terms of carbon footprint, because you are utilizing and revitalizing the entire shell and bones of a house.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Photo Credit: Everett Middle Housing Resources<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n These inconspicuous -plex housing can be easily built in new construction as well. When you looked at the above photo, did you know that it was six-plex just looking at the exterior?<\/p>\n\n\n\n In some areas, lots are already laid out in a way that makes housing options like cottage homes even easier to hide. Take a look at the below cottage community<\/a> built in Silverdale, Washington. Add some foliage along the perimeter, and you would never know it was hidden on the lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Photo Credit: Chico Beach Cottages<\/a> \u2013 Silverdale, WA; The Cottage Company & Wenzlau Architects<\/p>\n\n\n\n Part of what will make middle housing successful is utilizing the correct types for each area. The idea is not to plop a giant multi-plex that looks like an apartment complex in the middle of a quaint neighborhood. That doesn\u2019t make sense for anyone. But it does make sense to put a larger multi-plex on the edge of the neighborhood abut the commercially zoned areas and on busy corners. The point is to put density nearest to the city resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Photo Credit: Washington State Department of Commerce<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Photo Credit: Washington State Department of Commerce<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Perhaps you\u2019re concerned about more vehicles on the roads in your neighborhood, either parking on the streets or causing traffic?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Summarized by Sightline Institute<\/a>, as it stands right now, the law \u201ccap[s] mandates at no more than one parking stall per lot on lots 6,000 square feet or smaller, and at no more than two stalls per lot on lots larger than that.\u201d And any middle housing that is within a half-mile of a major transit stop will not be subjected to any parking mandates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But what does this mean for you? Firstly, the point of creating such high-density housing near commercial areas and transit, is to also reduce the need<\/em> for individual vehicles. When a community is walk-able and transit is readily available, less people will have cars. We are also seeing more households reducing to only one car instead of two. Take Seattle for example, whose population is ever increasing but their overall car population has remained stable<\/a> for the past several years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Photo Credit: Washington State Department of Commerce<\/a> & Opticos Design<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, for the lots that will mandate parking, if we are looking at what most likely is going to end up in your neighborhood, a duplex, triplex, fourplex or six-plex, that means they will be required to have two, three, four or six parking spaces respectively. For a duplex and even triplex, that\u2019s not going to be more parking than a typical single-family home already has in many cases. And looking at the site plan above from Opticos Design<\/a>, the parking spots can be easily hidden from street view. Fourplexes and six-plexes will be in a similar boat, where parking could potentially be hidden, or it may end up right off the street. And while that won\u2019t be as nice to look at, think about how many houses have garages and driveways already at the front of the house. It won\u2019t be out of place to have that much flatwork. Moreover, because of the required parking spaces, there isn\u2019t likely going to be more vehicles parked on the street, as the households moving into the middle housing are typically smaller and therefore won\u2019t have multiple cars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Overall, the number of extra vehicles on the road is going to quite minimal taking all of the above into account. So there isn\u2019t anything to worry about when it comes to cars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are still thinking, \u201cWell, who would even WANT to live in these?<\/em>\u201d Just remember that not every type of housing is for every person, but there is a market for every type of housing you could think of, whether it\u2019s something you, personally, would want to live in or not. And with housing being as expensive and unaffordable to purchase these days as it is, there are many people who just want something they can afford and put equity into that meets their minimum needs. Which middle housing can do, while increasing many people\u2019s quality of life. Middle housing a crucial step towards ensuring younger and older generations alike have reliable housing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As housing-for-everyone advocates, TC Legend Homes<\/a> and Powerhouse Designs<\/a> strives to educate the public on these important issues while providing healthy, net-zero, carbon neutral budget homes in a effort to not only help the housing crisis, but provide top-performing homes.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat is middle housing?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What does middle housing look like?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/powerhouse-designs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/6-plex-1.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/powerhouse-designs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/ChicoBeachCottages_SitePlan01.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/powerhouse-designs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Example-Block-1-.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/powerhouse-designs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Example-Block-4.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nMiddle housing and parking<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/powerhouse-designs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-03-121507.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nConclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n