Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #missingmiddle
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This picture is a perfect representation of the current #housing situation in Arlington: a NIMBY w/ their yellow "NO" signs trying to reserve the entire space around them to keep others out. 1 person taking up an area meant for 6. #MissingMiddle 
While you're here, I could use some help to get ready for 2023:
šššsecure.anedot.com/theoforarlingtā¦
I'm an urban planner. I'm concerned my profession is actively contributing to housing affordability crisis through policies that arenāt working, long processes & ideas to prevent āsprawlā that some ppl simply reject by moving vast distances for a single family home w a backyard.
Planners r implementing intensification targets to stop building lower-density. But what's actually happening? Families r moving vast distances from city centre for personal choice of home type they want at $ they can afford. Is planning actually contributing to quality of life?
How about #missingmiddle? Well it's āmissingā precisely because of planning rules around zoning that are exclusionary. Zoning rules protect specific housing typologies in wealthier established 'hoods w specific objective of excluding other housing options that are more affordable
North America has been building + rebuilding cities + towns quite badly for more than half a century. To do it properly wld have been easyāwe used to be great at it. Butālike voting for presidentājust because something is easy to do does not mean that it will be done or done well
Cities "that are truly committed to a thriving centre realize city government must identify downtown housing as a key objective warranting investment + careā #ocp2020ycd
RULE 6: Cities should actively invest both money + staff time in creation of more attainable housing downtown
RULE 6: Cities should actively invest both money + staff time in creation of more attainable housing downtown
Time to take a hard look at the negative urban design consequences of the trend in both the public and private sectors to centralization and consolidation. Speck argues in #WalkableCityRules Part II Mix the Uses for Local schools and parks. #ocp2020ycd
Listening to today's #rhnamtg & staff are reporting on engagement they did with community organizations for feedback on their priorities for RHNA & the Bay Area's housing needs
funnily enough, none of the community members brought up local control š¤
funnily enough, none of the community members brought up local control š¤
people in the focus groups wanted more housing, everywhere, for everyone; they were interested in making sure high resource, exclusionary communities did their fair share; some had concerns about low income residents in those areas facing racism & classism #rhnamtg
homelessness, displacement, and the need for funding were commonly raised concerns
there was interest in putting homes near transit, but concern about transit quality, safety, and reliability (a public commenter asked whether those came from transit riders or drivers) #rhnamtg
there was interest in putting homes near transit, but concern about transit quality, safety, and reliability (a public commenter asked whether those came from transit riders or drivers) #rhnamtg
Itās hard to believe this was ever a place for cars. The most interesting thing about the #TimesSquare transformation in New York by ā¦@MikeBloombergā© ā¦@JSadikKhanā© & ā¦@citiesforpeopleā© ā it wasnāt sold as āplace-making.ā It was about TRAFFIC WORKING BETTER.
Thereās lots of reasons why New Yorkās Bryant Park is one of the best people-places anywhere. But my favourite reasons are the many diverse well-defined āsub-spacesā as you walk around it; the massive number of moveable chairs; & the big beautiful shade trees on a hot, sunny day.
What is successful urbanism? If thereās a lot of people in a āpublic spaceā (itās not actually public), is it a good place? New Yorkās new Hudson Yards development has been criticized by many urbanists, & defended by some, so I needed to see it myself. It raised many questions:
Did everyone see the @SeaTimesOpinion piece on housing + state Legislature? Great. We have some thoughts weād like to share. seattletimes.com/opinion/editorā¦ #waleg
First off, @SeaTimesOpinion, it is absolutely an appropriate role for the Legislature to take action to address our critical housing shortage. We are in a housing crisis because the status quo isnāt working. Continuing down the same path is not the answer. #waleg
The WA State Legislature passes laws on criminal justice, education, transportation, labor, etc. that impact local government. Why not housing? š¤·āāļø#waleg
1. Maps and charts!
I posted this a little while back, based on data from the City's new 25-ward census profiles.
Let's pull it apart...
I posted this a little while back, based on data from the City's new 25-ward census profiles.
Let's pull it apart...
2. Reminder: this is based on counts of dwelling units, not of population in dwelling units.
First, StatCan definitions of structural type:
First, StatCan definitions of structural type:
3. Single Detached Houses.
Share of occupied dwelling units in this type ranges from 54.8% (Ward 25) to 0.4% (Ward 13).
Only 3 wards >40%.
Share of occupied dwelling units in this type ranges from 54.8% (Ward 25) to 0.4% (Ward 13).
Only 3 wards >40%.
