MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING on the boards

A small building can have a big impact: this design has a commercial suite, a live work unit, two subsidized one bedroom apartments and two 2 bedroom apartments (with bonus lofts).

seattle architect has more missing middle housing on the boards

The housing crisis in California is so difficult in part because jurisdictions have opposed or slowly walked new housing through a mix of bad zoning and bureaucratic barriers. In response, the state has invoked a provision called the ‘builder’s remedy’ where towns and cities that have failed to show how they can meet their housing targets lose their ability to enforce their own zoning rules, provided that projects include some percentage of affordable housing.

The design is pushed to the street, preserving more backyard for residents and mature trees. The commercial space can be thought of as a cafe, retail or daycare.

As part of this zoning holiday we’ve designed this speculative small infill project. It has a commercial suite, a live work unit, two affordable one bedroom apartments and two 2 bedroom apartments with lofts.

Diagram of five unit apartment building.

This project is geared for using the Passive House green building standard to achieve very low operating expenses, and high indoor air quality. It is packed with amenities such as large porches and bike storage. If you are a developer interested in infill development or a property owner looking to make the most of this window of opportunity, please contact us at Matt@CASTarchitecture.com.