News and Observer - Raleigh leaders consider change to allow more duplexes, townhomes in city neighborhoods
The Raleigh City Council will consider a change on Tuesday that will allow duplexes, townhomes and other housing types by-right in mostly single-family neighborhoods.
This will help address housing affordability and increase “missing middle” housing — two issues the majority of the Raleigh City Council campaigned on in 2019, said Raleigh Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin.
“We empathized there would have to be some change to zoning to allow for more housing choice, especially what I call gentle density,” she said. “This is what I call gentle density, and it will allow for more homes to be built in our city. It’s a positive thing.”
The Triangle housing market is one of the most competitive in the United States, and the average Raleigh home stays on the market for four days, The News & Observer previously reported.
WHAT IS MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING? Missing middle housing covers a gamut of housing types that fit between apartments and single-family homes. Normally it includes duplexes, triplexes, townhomes, backyard cottages (also called accessory dwelling units) and cottage court housing.
WHAT IS BEING CHANGED? In short, duplexes will be allowed in most residential areas, and townhomes will be allowed in most residential areas if they meet specific guidelines. Duplexes and townhomes are currently only allowed in some of the highest-density residential areas and would need a rezoning in other residential areas. The change would allow duplexes and townhomes by-right.
Apartments could also be developed on smaller lots in denser neighborhoods and with as few as three units.
The change doesn’t exclude single-family homes from being built or rebuilt.
“I think this is one of those necessary steps that will get us to where we need to be — with more housing choice,” Baldwin said. “Those choices can lead to more affordability.”
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“Gentle, incremental density” makes neighborhoods more climate-friendly, slows gentrification and can keep houses from being bought for large apartment complexes, said Jenn Truman, an area architectural designer. “It builds small equity for more people, but also builds small businesses for the small developers and small tradesmen businesses,” she said.
