From coast to coast, Canadian cities are showing increased interest in so-called ?missing middle? housing. The term encompasses a range of typologies?from laneway homes and secondary suites, to duplexes, townhomes, and small apartment buildings?any housing larger than a box-in-the-sky condominium, but smaller than a single-family detached home.
The missing middle covers a spectrum of housing typologies, from row houses to mid-rise apartments. Image courtesy City of Edmonton
Building more of these types of housing, say advocates, will help to increase affordability by providing new ownership and rental opportunities. And building more densely, particularly in established neighbourhoods, will also contribute to the sustainability of cities, by putting people within walking and cycling distance from workplaces, schools and other day-to-day needs. The need for missing middle housing is especially apparent in Toronto. The recent book House Divided: How the Missing Middle Will Solve Toronto?s Housing Crisis points out that some 200 square kilometres of the city?an area twice the size of Manhattan?is zoned exclusively for detached single-family residential dwellings. This so-called ?Yellowbelt,? named for the colour in which it appears on zoning maps, is 1.8 times larger than all other areas zoned for housing in Toronto. Even more low-rise residential areas are shielded from change by the City?s Official Plan, which expects development to ?respect and reinforce the existing physi...