Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Missing middle housing


 * The following discussion is an archived debate of the proposed deletion of the article below. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in a deletion review).  No further edits should be made to this page.

The result was keep. Nomination withdrawn. (non-admin closure) theleekycauldron (talk • contribs) (they/them) 18:07, 25 October 2021 (UTC)

Missing middle housing

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The concept is notable -- it's known as Affordable housing. The particular term is used only by Parolek and his firm of designers.In WP, every time the term is found ,it's just a link to his work. Perhaps there's material here that could be used, but as a term used by a single design firm, I'm not sure it would otherwise be worth even a redirect. The other possibility is that he or his firm might be notable.  DGG ( talk ) 08:49, 21 October 2021 (UTC)
 * Note: This discussion has been included in the list of Geography-related deletion discussions. North America1000 17:01, 21 October 2021 (UTC)
 * Note: This discussion has been included in the list of Architecture-related deletion discussions. North America1000 17:02, 21 October 2021 (UTC)


 * Keep I’ve seen this term used and discussed so widely I had no idea it was only coined in 2010, and we’d be sorely lacking not to cover it. Even if this architect crafted its meaning, it has been broadly used and acknowledged as a key component of urban design, with dozens of news articles in recent weeks describing it and consideration for zoning and development that includes it. Significant sources that don't mention Parolek include . Nominator is mistaken if he believes it's just a synonym for affordable housing. While a city seeking affordable housing should include missing middle housing to provide a diversity of options beyond single-family and high-rise that include low-cost construction, such missing middle buildings can still be luxury and out of reach for those who need affordable housing, a concept that includes subsidization and large apartments. This is about much more than ensuring that buildings are accessible to the low-income, but forms of development that result in varied density in neighborhoods, with access to businesses and amenities. This writer even says "Missing middle housing is high-end, not affordable, housing"; though I strongly disagree with his arguments because it can in fact be both high-end and affordable, and MMH has goals and results beyond just costs. The missing middle is discussed in published books and reports like House Divided: How the Missing Middle Will Solve Toronto's Housing Crisis, Sustainable Nation: Urban Design Patterns for the Future, and Family-friendly City: Envisioning a "missing Middle" Density Bonus in Austin's Single-family Neighborhoods that do not focus on Parolek's work. Reywas92Talk 20:12, 21 October 2021 (UTC)
 * Keep I haven't looked extensively at the references, but my impression is that this term is getting use as a type/class of housing which can be introduced into neighborhoods with minimal "disruption"/"change of character" (NIMBY opposition) in which it was previously illegal (by single-family zoning) and lies between the only other option that was legal (large multi-family buildings). If the term is used in enough sources, I think it passes WP:GNG, just like two recent articles I came across which could be seen in a similar light Striketober and Great Resignation...they are just more strikes and a resumption of workers moving to new jobs which stalled in the COVID time, but both seem to have names now. --- Avatar317 (talk) 20:22, 21 October 2021 (UTC)
 * Keep it's something of a buzzword/slogan, and the article has POV concerns as a result. Possibly it should be renamed to just "Middle housing" or merged with Medium-density housing.  But it's a common enough term to keep the article, and it's distinct from affordable housing.  (I'd never heard this specific phrase for limited residential up-zoning, but Google search clearly shows it is common enough.) User:力 (power~enwiki,  π,  ν ) 19:47, 22 October 2021 (UTC)
 * KeepThe term "missing middle housing" is used widely within urban planning including by several government organizations, well known non-for-profits, academia, and urban planning discourse. For example, the City of Toronto is currently running a survey on "...The City is working to expand opportunities for “missing middle” housing forms in Toronto, ranging from duplexes to low-rise walk-up apartments..." with reports titled, for example, "Missing Middle – Summary of Advice from the Planning Review Panel". The City of Victoria British Columbia is currently running a "Missing Middle initiative" with an entire outreach campaign related to "missing middle housing" with its own graphics, videos, and data Arlington Virginia is still in the process of a major "Missing Middle Housing Study" with its own "missing middle" definitions, reports, and research documents. These major governmental organizations are not connected to Optics. It is very likely that residents living in these major cities may want to learn more about "missing middle housing" after seeing that exact terminology used by their local government and would benefit from the Wikipedia page. You can also find explicit use of the term by non-for-profits including the Canadian Urban Institute, the Sightline Institute, Alliance for Housing Solutions which aren't connected to Optics. The term is common within urban planning discourse with a very well populated tag on Planitzen. While there's not a lot of competition, the likely most watched urban planning YouTube channel Not Just Bikes has a video titled "The Houses that Can't be Built in America - The Missing Middle" with more than 800k views. The channel "About Here" has a video titled "Vancouver’s Missing Middle Mystery" with more than 100k views. The channel "Oh the Urbanity!" has a video titled "Five Dense "Missing Middle" Neighbourhoods in Montreal" with more than 50k views. You can also find videos using the exact term "missing middle" from the City of Ottawa and the City of Vancouver. State Nebraska State Senator Matt Hansen (D-Lincoln) introduced new legislation to kickoff the 2020 legislative session, proposing LB 794, or the "Missing Middle Housing Act". The term is widespread and any good faith search for the term will show that it is used widely by different organizations many of whom have produced their own graphics, data, and reports. As major cities and even States continue to discuss "missing middle housing" having this Wikipedia page available can help provide information to residents. 	--Joiedevivre123321 (talk) 12:38, 23 October 2021 (UTC)
 * Withdrawn There's no point continuing -- possibly there is a difference in meaning.  DGG ( talk ) 08:58, 24 October 2021 (UTC)


 * The above discussion is preserved as an archive of the debate. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in a deletion review). No further edits should be made to this page.