Missing Middle Housing

SMall backyard cottage ADU in San Diego, California.

San Diego Votes to Rein in “Towering” ADUs

City council voted to limit the number of units in accessory buildings to six — after confronting backyard developments of up to 100 units behind a single family home.

June 18, 2025 - NBC San Diego

Colorful teal, brown, and blue brownstones in New York City with wide stone stairways going up to first floor doors.

The Trouble With QUIMBY

The idea of “quality urbanism in my back yard” has its uses, but should not be used to limit housing supply.

June 12, 2025 - Michael Lewyn

Google Street view screen shot of modern duplex built between two historic homes in Cliffside Park, New Jersey.

New Jersey Duplexes Elicit Mixed Reactions

Modern, two-unit residences are proliferating in northern New Jersey communities, signaling for some a boon to the housing supply and to others a loss of historic architecture.

June 8, 2025 - Gothamist

White accessory dwelling unit in backyard of small grey home in Seattle, Washington.

ADUs for Sale? San Diego Could Legalize Backyard Condos

As one of 25 proposed amendments, San Diego may soon allow accessory dwelling units to be bought and sold as individual homes.

June 1, 2025 - KPBS

Des Moines, Iowa skyline viewed from a plaza with two flags on either side at dusk.

Iowa Legalizes Accessory Dwelling Units

A new law will allow property owners to build ADUs on single-family lots starting on July 1.

May 30, 2025 - Smart Cities Dive

View of downtown Seattle with construction cranes and cloudy sky as seen from top of Space Needle.

Seattle’s Upzoning Plan is Ambitious, Light on Details

The city passed a ‘bare-bones’ framework to comply with state housing laws that paves the way for more middle housing, but the debate over how and where to build is just getting started.

May 29, 2025 - The Urbanist

Mid-rise brick buildings with retail and restaurants on ground floor on sunny day in Soho, Manhattan, New York City.

In Dense NYC, What Does ‘Human Scale’ Mean?

Advocates reject the NIMBY label, arguing that they seek a more sustainable, incremental pace of growth modeled on mid-rise neighborhoods.

May 29, 2025 - Next City

Converted garage to housing unit in London, UK.

Are ADUs New Jersey’s Affordable Housing Solution?

Accessory units can bring gentle density increases and boost the housing supply with minimal impact on local infrastructure.

May 22, 2025 - Gabe Bailer - PP - AICP - NJ Urbanthinker

View of downtown Dallas, Texas skyline with skyscrapers against twilight sky.

Dallas Code Reform Makes Way for Missing Middle Housing

The Dallas City Council voted to change the city’s building code to allow up to eight residential units in three-story buildings.

May 15, 2025 - Strong Towns

White and red train speeding past on green elevated bridge in Norwalk, Connecticut.

Connecticut Assembly to Reconsider TOD Bill

The ‘Work, Live, Ride’ bill would prioritize funding for designated transit-oriented zones to encourage denser development near transit.

March 26, 2025 - The Connecticut Mirror

Wide apartment building staircase with curved wrought iron handrail.

Study: Single-Staircase Buildings Pose No Additional Risks

Zoning codes have long prohibited single-stair residential buildings due to safety concerns, but changing that could lower the cost of construction and allow for more flexible housing designs.

March 5, 2025 - CNU Public Square

Brightly colored pale blue, dark blue, and coral row houses in Baltimore, Maryland.

The Key Role of Row Houses in Philadelphia and Baltimore

The row house is ubiquitous in the two cities, but their policies on design and preservation vary widely.

February 2, 2025 - North Penn Now

Ornate Victorian San Francisco houses with modern high-rises in background.

Commentary: A New ‘Grand Bargain’ for American Housing

For decades, many U,S, neighborhoods successfully resisted change at the expense of a few neighborhoods sacrificed to mass development. Is there a better way?

January 29, 2025 - Strong Towns

For Lease painted on window of vacant commercial space.

2024: The Year in Zoning

Cities and states are leaning on zoning reform to help stem the housing crisis and create more affordable, livable neighborhoods.

January 8, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Hillside homes in Berkeley, California.

Berkeley Launches ADU Amnesty Program

Owners of unpermitted accessory dwelling units can bring their units up to code and obtain certificates of compliance without facing penalties.

January 6, 2025 - San Francisco Chronicle

Anchorage, Alaska skyline with snowy mountains in background.

Anchorage Leaders Support Multigenerational Housing Model

The city is making it easier to build multigenerational housing that can accommodate families, children, and seniors who want to ‘age in place.’

December 27, 2024 - Alaska Public Media

Large homes with large yards in suburban cul-de-sac near Atlanta, Georgia.

Commentary: Minimum Lot Sizes Drive Up Housing Costs

How making residential building requirements more flexible can ease the housing crisis and make neighborhoods more livable for more households.

December 11, 2024 - Strong Towns

Rendering of modern black and brown one-story backyard home design

The ADU Movement Grows Around the Country

More states and cities are promoting backyard cottages, converted garages, and other add-on units. Are they making an impact?

November 26, 2024 - Yahoo News

Aerial view of Arlington County, Virginia from an airplane.

Court Blocks Arlington County Zoning Reform

The county’s zoning reform plan would have promoted ‘missing middle housing’ types of up to six units on lots previously zoned for single-family housing.

October 1, 2024 - Reason

Multistory apartment building under construction with yellow crane.

Experts Say Zoning Reform Isn’t Likely to Solve Housing Crisis

A survey by Fannie Mae found widespread skepticism among housing experts that zoning reforms will be enacted widely enough to make a major impact on U.S. housing supply.

September 11, 2024 - Housing Wire

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