Housing Sites of Opportunity report shows promise of Missing Middle Housing

The Polk County Housing Trust Fund has released a new report called Housing Sites of Opportunity, that highlights practical ways communities in Polk County could integrate more housing into existing neighborhoods.

Completed in partnership with local planning firm Confluence, the report focuses on Missing Middle Housing, types of housing developments that range from duplexes and cottage courts up to smaller buildings with 20 or fewer units. Such development types used to be common in American cities but have become less so as development increasingly focuses on single family homes or large apartment buildings.

To provide a realistic sense of development opportunities in Polk County, the project team reviewed thousands of local land parcels to identify common site conditions where this housing could fit. After confirming that such locations are widespread across the county, the team created ten land use “typologies” based on identified patterns that represent local development opportunities.

Examples of these scenarios include adding housing to excess open space at faith-based properties or redeveloping underutilized commercial properties for housing. The report provides example development concepts with approximate cost and number of housing units included for each. It does not identify or recommend specific properties for development. It concludes with policy and planning considerations communities can consider to make the recommended housing types easier to build.

“Our goal is to spur conversation about promising ways to prompt housing development in the region, the benefits of missing middle housing and the role it can play in the community’s future. The housing solutions the community needs might be literally right around the corner in local neighborhoods if we think creatively.” said Johnny Alcivar, PCHTF’s director of planning, research and compliance.

The Housing Sites of Opportunity report is made possible by a grant from Wells Fargo in collaboration with Capital Crossroads, a regional effort to catalyze solutions that improve quality of life and support thriving neighborhoods in Central Iowa.

The new report is available now at PCHTF.org/missingmiddle.