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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]It always amazes me when people have such strong opinions about housing but don’t have any experience with development or housing policies. I have for almost 30 years in DC/VA/MD.

Missing middle, as a term of art, was initially coined to describe the middle income people who made too much to qualify for subsidized housing but didn’t make enough for what was considered an adequate size home to fit their particular family structure in an area somewhat close to where they worked or where connected to. Think 2 parent, 2 kid average size family as an example.

HUD produces average incomes every year per household size from 1-7+ people. The Washington/Baltimore area is considered at the highest level for income. Google it so you can see what the levels are. Typically for subsidized housing programs, the range is 30-80% of the average median income per household size for the area (DC). Ex: 4 person household must not make more than $106,800 in 2025 (that number often surprises people how high it is, but this is an expensive place to live).

Missing middle was aimed at helping those who don’t qualify for those low income programs but don’t make high enough to buy. One social concern is that this effects workforce housing, and that your teachers, nurses, law enforcement officers, etc cannot afford to buy/live reasonably close to where they work, so they have longer and longer commutes bc they have to buy so far away. And that increases the chance they’ll quit and change to a job closer to where they can afford to live, reducing the workforce and if they don’t quit they won’t be as committed because they have no connection to the community.

MM was never about tearing down a SFH and building multiple luxury THs. Ever. But here we are. Just call it density housing. But it’s disingenuous, incorrect and lying to stick a label on what missing middle actually is today. [/quote]

I have 30+ years of experience with construction, civic associations, BZA, etc - in Arlington - and it was always about adding more density. Specifically, adding more middle-size housing options that weren’t as expensive as the skyrocketing SFHs.

Having some less expensive options could make ARL more accessible to more people. But it was never meant to be affordable housing or have some form of price control. 
[/quote]

No, you’re wrong. I literally worked for HOC, ARHA, DCHFA, DHCD, HUD and state of Maryland in this exact space. It’s that’s not what missing middle originally was for or how it was being sold “to the public”. I know exactly why developers would want upzoning. Unless you have a 501c3 as the developer, NO developer is building multitasking with “less affordable” in mind. Now, there are municipal and state level programs that a developer can tap into to finance certain tax exempt financings, but I have never known a non501c3 to use one. Why? Because you’re not making money.

Where are the less expensive options to SFH? Expensive apartments? Expensive condos? Expensive THs? With all the amenities? We are just going to increase density for the rich? Blue maga?????[/quote]

I know exactly how it was communicated to the public in Arlington [u]because I was there[/u]. I have been very engaged for decades. Stop conflating whatever happened in MD with what happened in ARL.

Developers are in it to make money. It was always going to be free market prices/rent.

A TH is generally less expensive than a SFH. A condo is generally less expensive than a TH. The math isn’t that difficult to figure out. 
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