Oregon has taken the first step in transforming its cities, eliminating single family zoning.

However, we have a lot of work to do.

While multi-family housing can be put everywhere now, it's only with tight constraints.

THREAD:

Progressive era reforms to "clean up" downtowns resulted in window mandates, room size mandates, etc. Rules that ended "boarding houses," which serve as hostels, good transitional housing for the homeless and for the working poor who don't need a studio. https://www.sightline.org/2012/11/14/rooming-houses-historys-affordable-quarters/

Missing middle housing might be able to be built, but within tight constraints.

While duplexes, triplexes, and 4-plexes may be legal, bungalow courts, which provide even more density for cheap aren't legal because of parking mandates.

Great thread.

https://twitter.com/alfred_twu/status/1197775979596222470

It's amazing. From bunkhouses to bungalow courts, US cities spent nearly a century trying to wipe out certain forms of housing, only to spend millions today to save the few that remain. https://la.curbed.com/2018/1/31/15860310/bungalow-courts-los-angeles-history-endangered

Tbh, I didn't understand the concept of missing middle housing until I saw this tweet.

Simply building up doesn't cut costs, because of financing and construction cost increases. https://twitter.com/alfred_twu/status/1197780265579376640