Let's talk about Seattle, Washington, and its housing crisis. Like many other big cities, there's a serious shortage of housing options there. This scarcity has driven up costs for homeowners and renters alike, making it impossible for many people to afford a place to live. “Tight rental markets make it difficult for low- and moderate-income renters to find housing they can afford,” wrote the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University in a 2015 study. They emphasized the need for both the public and private sectors to step up their game and provide more rental housing options to tackle the issue of affordability.
Now, the problem lies in the lack of housing options and diversity, which experts refer to as the "Missing Middle." You see, the current zoning regulations in Seattle are all about extremes. They focus on single-family houses at one end and high-rise apartments at the other, totally ignoring the middle ground. We're talking about the cool stuff like duplexes, townhouses, and courtyard communities that make a community vibrant and diverse.
Ellen Dunham-Jones, a professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology, and co-author of Retrofitting Suburbia: Urban Design Solutions for Redesigning Suburbs, sums it up perfectly on MissingMiddleHousing.com. She says, “Well-designed ‘Missing Middle’ buildings unify the walkable streetscape as they greatly diversify the choices available for households of different ages, sizes, and incomes. Smaller households tend to eat out more, helping our neighborhood attract wonderful restaurants. Diverse households keep diverse hours meaning we have more people out walking our streets at more varied hours—keeping them safer,”
Seattle’s Housing Solution
So, what's the plan in Seattle? City Council member Mike O'Brien has proposed legislation to diversify housing options in the city. The proposal aims to remove zoning regulations on building backyard cottages or mother-in-law units. These Detached Accessory Dwelling Units (DADUs) would provide more affordable living options in single-family neighborhoods. Not only are DADUs generally smaller and cheaper, making them more accessible for lower-income earners, but constructing new units would increase the housing supply, which helps ease the pricing problems. It's a win for both residents and the city, as higher population density supports local businesses and boosts tax revenue.
Potential Pitfalls
Of course, there are potential downsides, like reduced yards and green space. But Councilmember O'Brien has a solution for that too. The proposed legislation would ease some height restrictions, allowing residents to build up instead of out. It's a small change, just 1-2 feet more in maximum height, but it makes it easier to construct 2-bedroom DADUs without sacrificing the lot space. And hey, speaking of space, the legislation suggests waiving the on-site parking requirements. Property owners can decide whether or not to add additional parking, which means more construction without sacrificing precious green spaces.
Transparency Boosts Diversity
Now, here's something cool. The legislation didn't happen overnight. It was the result of extensive public feedback. Residents, architects, and community leaders came together in community meetings to shape the proposal. They even reached out to current owners of backyard cottages in the Seattle area to get their thoughts and suggestions. They studied peer cities like Portland, Oregon; Vancouver, British Columbia; and Los Angeles, California, to learn from their experiences with DADU programs. It was a process of engagement and education that allowed everyone to understand the existing regulations, envision the changes needed, and see how they would affect people's lives. Transparency is key, my friends!
When it comes to planning the future of neighborhoods and cities, it's crucial to involve the entire community. Giving residents the chance to ask questions, voice concerns, and share wisdom leads to happier, healthier, and more diverse communities. So, let's keep the dialogue open and transparent, and work together to shape the growth of our municipalities.