Arlingtonians For Our Sustainable Future
Update
05/03/22
Finding Arlington's Missing Middle
Arlington County has released a draft framework for "missing middle" housing developments as part of its ongoing Missing Middle Housing Study it has been conducting since October of 2020. The study concludes that there is a net environmental and social benefit by diversifying the housing type and unit variety available in neighborhoods. Missing Middle Housing, which are multifamily structures spread throughout single-family structures.
The building type adheres to the permitting allotment for single-family structures, but zoning allows these units to be a maximum of four before needed to get a variance. These structures can vary from eight-plus-unit structures, to more traditional townhomes, although in this case they would be restricted to three in a row. While the draft resolution of the study approves up to eight units with existing building restrictions, the requirements for on-site parking could be reduced. The resolution would “eliminate environmental impacts, compared to status quo redevelopment" the study states.
“(Missing-Middle Housing)...has inherent economic disadvantages compared with large single-detached homes, including increased costs to build, increased complexity for ownership and sales, and lack of familiarity in the market,” said last week’s presentation. “Based on the financial feasibility and study of other jurisdictions, only approximately 20 lots per year would become ‘missing middle’ (94-108 units).”
“Expected outcome is a wider range of housing types at lower prices than what is currently available,” the study said. “New housing types would be attainable for households with incomes from $108,000-$200,000+. Housing designs would be of a scale consistent with single-household redevelopment already occurring.”
The study will ultimately lead to a proposal, which will be debated and voted on. For now, the current zoning restrictions on most non-federal land in the county to single-family-only homes will remain in place.
