A wave of new legislative measures is sweeping across West Coast states, aimed at dismantling traditional single-family zoning to combat the housing crisis. From Seattle to San Diego, “middle housing” is the new buzzword. Developers are now finding it easier to build duplexes and fourplexes on lots previously reserved for single homes. While urban planners cheer this as a victory for density and affordability, long-time residents express concerns over neighborhood character and parking. This report explores the tension between the desperate need for affordable units and the preservation of suburban aesthetics, highlighting specific neighborhoods currently undergoing rapid transformation.
Housing Reform: How New Zoning Laws Are Reshaping Suburban Neighborhoods
