What is Middle Housing?

[Tim Cornwell]

What Is Middle Housing? Understanding the “Missing Middle” in Washington

Washington is in the midst of an affordable housing and homelessness crisis. — Washington State Department of Commerce, 2024–2029 Homeless Housing Strategic Plan

In response to this crisis, lawmakers and local governments have been reimagining how we use land and what types of homes we allow in our neighborhoods. One key concept at the heart of this change is middle housing—but what exactly does that mean?

🔍 What Is Middle Housing?

Middle housing refers to a range of multi-unit, house-scale buildings that fit in seamlessly with traditional single-family neighborhoods. These include:

• Duplexes

• Triplexes

• Fourplexes

• Townhomes

• Cottage clusters

• Courtyard apartments

• Accessory dwelling units (ADUs/DADUs)

They are called “middle” not because of their size, but because they fill the gap between detached single-family homes and large apartment complexes.

📉 Why Is Middle Housing “Missing”?

For decades, local zoning laws across Washington (and the country) have made it nearly impossible to build anything other than single-family homes in most residential areas. This has created a shortage of smaller, more affordable housing options that could serve:

• Young families,

• First-time buyers,

• Retirees wanting to downsize, and

• Middle-income workers who can’t afford today's prices.

This “missing middle” has contributed to skyrocketing home prices, longer commutes, and displacement.

🏗️ A New Vision for Neighborhoods

Middle housing is part of a smarter, more inclusive approach to urban planning. It allows cities to:

• Add gentle density without high-rises,

• Make better use of existing infrastructure,

• Provide walkable, livable communities, and

• Create new opportunities for local builders, investors, and homeowners alike.

💬 What This Means for You

Whether you're a homeowner, investor, or simply someone who cares about your neighborhood, middle housing is opening up new doors—literally and figuratively. It allows you to be part of the solution to the housing crisis while building long-term wealth and impact.

📣 In the next post, we’ll break down House Bill 1110, a landmark law that’s reshaping zoning statewide. You won’t want to miss it.