The current generation of single-family zoning reform is "the same box with more units." This approach seeks to allow infill construction without changing the neighborhood's appearance. In my latest column, I argue that the juice here isn't worth the squeeze: www.governing.com/urban/the-mi...
Zoning changes in cities such as Minneapolis have helped prompt new construction, but allowing more units on formerly single-family lots isn’t a panacea for housing shortages.
This is a big problem in Canada too. As a parent with two kids, my options are apparently squeeze the 4 of us into a 2bdrm apartment, or move 2 hours outside the city. I’d love a triplex option 😫
We can't even get "the same box with more units"!!! Just getting that is a heavy lift!!
Arlington County's recent loss in its missing middle lawsuit is one piece of evidence in favor of my argument. Every year the county permits multiple apartment buildings that deliver as many units as missing middle can with much less controversy.
I asked a colleague for a pro-forma on a 4-plex of 4bd 2k sqft homes, and they were like $1.6M each. ☠️ We’re in trouble.
in old neighborhoods in St. Louis, the buildings were all built basically the same on the outside (2–3 story brick boxes with a 10’ setback and a little yard in back) but inside they’re a mix of SFH, duplexes, quads, etc. so it can be done, cause we already did