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Planners knew they couldn’t change the product — so it had to be what they called it.
Goal was to try and change public perception without changing the underlying housing type.
- Almost all long-recognized multi-family rental styles were rebranded as “middle housing”
- The new label implied affordability and ownership
- In practice, these buildings function as rentals
Once rebranded, neighborhood zoning protections had to go!
Buildings that would never fit into these smaller lots were suddenly permitted.
- Single-family zoning was designed to limit building size and intensity
- State-level changes to law removed long-standing protections.
- Multi-unit rental buildings became legal on small residential lots.
Density could not scale without eliminating parking requirements.
More residents, more cars, and fewer safety margins—by design.
- Larger buildings require space planners couldn’t legally provide
- Parking minimums were removed to maximize buildable area
- Units now rely on already-crowded public streets
These styles are NOT OWNABLE!
And WHO WOULD WANT TO?
With No Parking, No Yard, No Privacy, No Guests, Shared Walls, utilities, and infrastructure.
THESE FAVOR RENTAL USE, NOT LONG-TERM OWNERSHIP!
REBRANDING
Middle Housing isn’t new. It’s a rebrand of existing multifamily housing—marketed to sound modest while enabling much higher density.
ZONING
Single-family zoning is replaced with blanket density increases—without guarantees of affordability or ownership.
PARKING
Parking requirements are eliminated to maximize unit count—not to improve affordability or safety.
STYLES
Design standards allow buildings to look like homes—while functioning as high-density rentals.
PERMITTING
Faster approvals and fee structures favor volume—while increasing revenue for cities.
MISINFORMATION
Affordability claims rely on assumptions—not enforceable outcomes.
