The “Missing Middle” Affordable Housing Solution

Karen Parolek discusses the 'Missing Middle' that is too often overlooked in discussions about affordable housing.

Local Business and Ownership Opportunities

Missing Middle Housing has added bonuses. While it helps contribute affordable housing solutions, it also provides local business and ownership opportunities. Federal home loans can be used for buildings up to four units, which means a homeowner can qualify to purchase a Missing Middle Housing building that could contain their own, more affordable unit, plus up to three additional units, which can provide additional income.

In addition, Missing Middle Housing in infill locations is not likely to be built by large developers, unless there is a large developable site within an existing neighborhood. Instead, small, local developers will build it incrementally. This is an excellent business opportunity for a small, local business, and I often recommend that community development corporations or local banks consider supporting or even incubating these small businesses. (I’m pitching Flip to a Fourplex as the sequel to the TV show Flip That House.) This could lead to a groundswell of incremental Missing Middle Housing development, contributing large numbers of affordable, locally owned housing units. It’s the development version of a successful fundraising strategy: making big change through lots of small contributions. It also puts the power to make that change in the hands of the many rather than only a few.

An affordable example of Missing Middle Housing that Opticos designed in Richmond, California. Based on local conditions, a family would need to make $45,000 per year to afford one of these bungalows. * Thank you to Ed Starkie of Urban Advisors for this calculation.

Powerful Affordable Housing Solution

Missing Middle Housing is a proven, affordable-by-design housing solution that meets the growing demand for walkable neighborhood living. It provides a “missing middle” option between subsidized housing and market-rate mid- to high-rise housing. While it is critical for cities to evaluate their current zoning and land-use policies to consider what might be preventing Missing Middle Housing, recommended changes can enable Missing Middle Housing to be a powerful contribution to the affordable housing crisis.

And if there are any producers out there interested in Flip to a Fourplex, you can reach me at karen.parolek@opticosdesign.com!

This article was written by Karen Parolek, originally published at on Optico Design’s website

Karen Parolek helped launch the field of information architecture and she applies her expertise in communication, usability, and information advocacy to her work at Opticos Design, Inc- an architect and urban planning firm in Berkeley, CA . Well-recognized for her work, she has spearheaded cutting-edge initiatives to create smarter and more sustainable corporations, spoken at national conferences, and consulted with international organizations. Her unique mix of skills in graphic design, information design, and architecture—combined with her aptitude for computers and engineering—lend themselves to her ability to make things easier to use, clearer to understand, and more accessible to everyone.

Karen is founding board member of the Form-Based Codes Institute, and has co-wrote a book on the topic of Form-Based Coding. Prior to joining Opticos in 2000, Karen worked at the internationally recognized design firm Pentagram where she worked with Michael Beirut to create all the wayfinding signage for the Wall Street area of New York City, as well as helping to create signage for Disney’s town of Celebration, Florida.

Images courtesy of Missing Middle Housing </i>