AARP Helping with Missing Middle Housing

One of the many takeaways from the APA National Conference in Philadelphia this year was AARP’s investment in planning. I’ve already mentioned their desire to fund good placemaking efforts. But now they’ve come out with a couple of booklets on Missing Middle Housing that should be helpful to rural planners throughout the U.S.

Housing is a hot topic right now as the housing shortages that once mainly plagued inner cities are impacting rural America. Some are even referring to the issue as an “epidemic“.

As stated on AARP’s website:

Across the United States, there is a mismatch between the available housing stock and what the market wants and needs. The nation is mostly missing (and needs) a set of residential building types that exist in the middle of the continuum from detached single-family houses to large apartment buildings. 

So-called “Missing Middle Housing” is a critical part of the solution. 

Yes, duplexes are part of the solution.

What is Missing Middle Housing?

What is Missing Middle Housing? Much like “Placemaking” it has been defined quite differently by a variety of organizations. However, missingmiddlehousing.com provides a good discussion about the subject on their website.

Essentially it is a push for housing types between the typical housing typologies of owner-occupied single-family housing and suburban multi-level apartments. The push is for additional housing unit types to provide more housing choices that fit the needs of a desperate housing market.

Three-story mixed-use with convertible base-floor space.

AARP’s Publications

To help communities in need of more housing types, AARP has developed two new informational booklets on the topic.

The first, entitled “Discovering and Developing Missing Middle Housing” gives local leaders, building and planning professionals, and community members information about the topic, including where it still exists, and why it is needed in communities today.

The other, “Re-Legalizing Missing Middle Housing“, provides customized Middle Housing legislation for state and local governments. The publication provides information for residents, grassroots leaders, and government officials to solve the housing issue.

Both publications provide a good amount of information on the topic and are worth the read.