Daniel Parolek, the founding partner of Opticos, originated the term "Missing Middle Housing" in 2010 as a way to describe a range of multi-unit or clustered housing types compatible in scale with single-family homes that can help meet the growing demand for walkable urban living. These building types, such as duplexes, fourplexes and bungalow courts, provide diverse housing options to support walkable communities, locally-serving retail, and public transportation options.
"We call them "Missing" because they have typically been illegal to build since the mid-1940s and "Middle" because they sit in the middle of a spectrum between detached single-family homes and mid- to high-rise apartment buildings, in terms of form and scale, as well as number of units and often, affordability," said Parolek. "And while they are "missing" from our new building stock, these types of buildings from the 1920s and 30s are beloved by many who have lived in them."
Missing Middle Housing helps solve the mismatch between the available U.S. housing stock and shifting demographics combined with the growing demand for walkable communities. Today's young couples, teachers, single women and baby boomers are among those looking for ways to live in a walkable neighborhood, but without the cost and maintenance burden of a detached single-family home.
The website is designed to serve as a resource for officials, planners and developers seeking to implement Missing Middle Housing projects. Visitors will find clear definitions of the Missing Middle Housing types that are best for creating walkable neighborhoods, as well as information on the unifying characteristics of these building types. You'll also find information on how to integrate Missing Middle Housing into existing neighborhoods, and how to regulate these building types.
In addition, the website provides an overview of how to get help enabling and delivering Missing Middle Housing in your town. Professionals from Opticos can review comprehensive plans and zoning standards to identify barriers to Missing Middle Housing and recommend updates to remove those barriers. They are also specialists in designing new Missing Middle Housing to meet the needs of today's consumers and homebuyers.
Learn more at http://MissingMiddleHousing.com/.
About Opticos Design:
Opticos is a team of urban designers, architects and strategists behind the movement for Missing Middle Housing. They create innovative solutions focused on walkable communities. Led by Principals Karen and Dan Parolek, international experts in Form-Based Coding, Opticos, a founding B Corp, runs its firm with a focus on social, environmental and economic responsibility and is a sought-after partner in bringing place-based thinking to planning and zoning.
SOURCE Opticos Design
Related Links
https://missingmiddlehousing.com
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