Legislators in Oregon and Washington are eyeing statewide solutions to keep job centers in these states affordable by re-legalizing a variety of modest, “missing middle” home choices like duplexes, triplexes, and quads in residential city neighborhoods.
Far from newfangled, these kinds of modest, mid-sized homes are familiar in many Northwest cities. But they’re usually illegal to build today. Restrictions that prohibit all but the most expensive houses make cities expensive—and encourage bigger homes. Since 1970, average sizes for new detached houses have soared by 64 percent. When cities choose to re-legalize a variety of mid-size homes, they can also help reverse the trend to replace modest homes with bigger—and pricier—“McMansions.”
Gradually returning our neighborhoods to a healthy mix of homes of all shapes and sizes is a crucial part of the affordability and transportation solution that our region needs. Here are tips for talking about middle home affordability solutions:
