Missing Middle Housing Case Study Asheville, North Carolina
A study conducted by Opticos Design for the City of Asheville, North Carolina identifies the best opportunities for Missing Middle Housing to occur near walkable, neighborhood nodes, like the catalyst areas previously discussed in this chapter. Access to a variety of amenities like goods and services, schools, employment, and community gathering spaces are all considered key ingredients to the framework, and oftentimes already exist in proximity to development opportunities. The report continues to detail the framework characteristics of a successful Missing Middle Housing neighborhood by the following measures: z Smaller block sizes: which allow for enhanced connectivity, and encourage pedestrian mobility by providing increased route options, and reduced distance between destinations. Avoiding dead-end streets, cul-de-sacs and circuitous routes increase walkability. z Access to bicycle routes: provides an alternative to driving medium-to-longer distance trips. z Accessible to mixed-use areas: allows residents to accomplish most needs and desires without having to travel significant distances. z Appropriate zoning: reinforces the housing stock with a variety of housing types, and encourages pedestrian activity through compact development. z Small-to-medium lot sizes: encourage human-scale development and discourage large tract development which can lead to degradation of the public realm. In conjunction with a series of financial feasibility test fits by zoning typology, a displacement risk assessment was conducted to identify areas of the city where residents are most vulnerable to displacement and where to deploy Missing Middle Housing to maximize benefits, while minimizing potential harm. The report identifies areas of the existing built environment that can support existing and future residents. It also identifies areas that can be incrementally transformed into walkable areas that support Missing Middle Housing. In conclusion, recommendations to facilitate the advancement of Missing Middle Housing in Asheville included: z Reinforcing walkable environments. z Preservation of existing neighborhood character. z Review and clarify next steps for corridors with identified transformational potential. z Define and distinguish Missing Middle Housing. z Articulate Missing Middle goals. z Clarify Missing Middle typologies. z Develop an implementation plan. z Balance Missing Middle Housing with the natural environment. z Ensure ease of implementation.
178 | East Berry Corridor Study
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