Raleigh’s missing middle rules promote profitability, but they fail at every other community goal: affordability, neighborhood compatibility, walkability, accessibility and equity. By excluding community goals, Raleigh’s missing middle rules have created a situation where the missing middle infill being built is very big, very unaffordable, incompatible with its surroundings and more often than not, demolishes rather than increases Raleigh’s supply of affordable dwellings.
One of the solutions to the problem proposed by the authors is to support policies to reduce the displacement of longtime residents, which would include affordable housing. Instead, along the New Bern Avenue BRT, our developer-friendly city planners have increased the height threshold for affordable units from three stories to five, which guarantees that no affordable units will be built because of the increase in cost of construction materials when height exceeds the five stories allowed under stick building.
Listening sessions with no action eventually lead to lack of resident belief that resident needs are indeed being heeded which results in demoralization of residents, or perhaps that is the intent.
In the recent N&O article “Missing Middle, median income and more: The housing jargon you need to know” a mistake was made in the description of missing middle housing. The article conflated housing types with housing prices.
Highlights from October 10 Work Session and Public Comments Meeting
City Council should provide every neighborhood protection from the unintended consequences of Missing Middle through adopting the reforms which have been proposed by Livable Raleigh and the ad hoc task force, both of which have made sound recommendations for revision. I encourage you to direct City Planning to study these recommendations and for you to take action.
Highlights from the October 3, 2023 City Council Afternoon and Evening Meetings
Every day I see good, affordable, multi-unit housing being torn down and replaced with McMansions or “luxury” apartments. This is going on ALL OVER THE CITY and was put on steroids by the Missing Middle policy changes.
Four of you are Councilors because you campaigned on Missing Middle Reform along with Engagement and Transparency. Waiting for the resolution of the lawsuit means waiting for YEARS and that is unacceptable. Do you want the next election to be run again on Missing Middle Reform while you’ve been Missing in Action?
Huge needs for public housing.
Public Comments focused on public safety, Mine Creek Greenway relocation, GoRaleigh, TOD/BRT, Missing Middle, and housing and homelessness