In April 2023 the City began a Missing Middle Housing study to identify barriers that negatively impact the production of housing supply in Asheville. The term “missing middle” is meant to describe a range of house-scale buildings with multiple units that are compatible in scale and form with detached single-family homes, including such examples as duplexes, cottage courts, and fourplexes.
As part of the study, the team is conducting a Renter’s Survey to better understand housing preferences and needs from the perspective of Asheville’s renting population. Anyone wishing to participate in the anonymous survey can access it at the project website or directly by clicking the following link: Renter’s Survey. This survey will be accessible until Friday, August 11, 2023.
Another approaching engagement opportunity will be a public workshop to be held next month. The free workshop will be an open-house format where attendees can drop in anytime between 4 – 7 p.m. on August 4th at the Harrah’s Cherokee Center’s Banquet Hall (87 Haywood Street, Asheville, NC 28801). Attendees will learn more about missing middle housing and how it can help to expand housing choice, increase entry-level home ownership opportunities, help homeowners to build generational wealth and passive income, and enable local ownership and neighborhood-driven investment.
The workshop is a family-friendly event that will include a series of stations for participants to learn and discuss specific housing-related topics. At each station there will be an opportunity to give feedback that will help guide the final Missing Middle Housing report. This report will ultimately make recommendations to help Asheville prioritize next steps for regulatory changes and strategies that support more housing choices in Asheville. Topics that will be highlighted at the workshop include:
- Project Overview: Timeline, engagement opportunities, and next steps
- Asheville’s Housing Needs: What are the most significant housing challenges facing Asheville?
- Missing Middle Housing Outcomes: What are the benefits of missing middle housing and how have other cities implemented these housing strategies?
- MMH Building Types: What are the types of housing included in the study and which missing middle housing types would fit into your neighborhood?
- What We’ve Heard So Far: What are the concerns and barriers that exist in Asheville today?
For those who cannot attend the in-person event, all workshop materials and accompanying surveys will be available on the City’s project website.