The Rise of “Missing Middle” Housing: Why It Matters Now More Than Ever
For decades, communities across Canada and North America have put in place policies that facilitiate two extremes of housing development: single-family homes on one end and high-rise condos or apartments on the other. But what about everything in between?
That’s the “missing middle” — a critical category of housing types that includes duplexes, fourplexes, courtyard apartments, row homes, secondary suites, and other mid-density forms of housing.
Let’s discuss why the missing middle is missing, how it contributes to the housing crisis, and why reintroducing it is essential for affordability, sustainability, and livability — and how UrbanRe is helping bring it back.
🧱 What Is “Missing Middle” Housing?
The term "missing middle" was coined by architect Daniel Parolek to describe multi-unit housing types that:
Fit within walkable, low-rise neighbourhoods
Are typically between 2 and 4 storeys
Provide more density than detached homes but less than high-rises
Offer diverse housing options suited for various household types
Examples include:
Duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes
Row houses and stacked townhomes
Garden suites and laneway homes
Small apartment buildings (6–12 units)
They blend seamlessly into existing residential areas — but due to zoning restrictions, they’re largely absent from the modern housing landscape.
📉 Why Is It Missing?
In many urban areas, restrictive zoning policies have banned or discouraged middle housing for decades, prioritizing:
Single-detached homes in vast zones (often 70–80% of residential land)
High-density towers near transit and commercial hubs
As a result:
Many families are priced out of the single-family market
People who want to age in place have limited downsizing options
Young adults and key workers struggle to find housing in the communities they serve
Neighbourhoods experience declining populations even while demand increases
💡 Why It Matters Now
With the housing crisis intensifying, the missing middle offers a strategic opportunity to:
✅ Increase Supply Without High-Rises
Not everyone wants to live in a tower. Middle housing provides gentle density without altering a neighbourhood’s character.
✅ Support Aging in Place
Older adults can downsize to a nearby triplex or garden suite — staying in their community but in a home that better fits their needs.
✅ Enable Intergenerational Living
Families can share a property in separate units — fostering care, connection, and flexibility.
✅ Promote Affordability
Multi-unit housing spreads land costs across more households, helping reduce prices and expand rental options.
✅ Strengthen Sustainability
Walkable, mixed-density communities reduce reliance on cars and support public transit, lowering carbon emissions.
🛑 The Barriers to Missing Middle Housing
Despite its benefits, missing middle housing faces persistent roadblocks:
Zoning restrictions: Single-family-only zoning still dominates many urban cores
High development fees: Smaller builders face disproportionate costs
Neighbourhood resistance: Misconceptions about density and property values fuel local opposition
Design and financing challenges: Lenders and developers often prioritize larger-scale projects for profit predictability
Overcoming these challenges requires bold policy shifts, public education, and support for small-scale development.
🛠️ How UrbanRe Can Help
UrbanRe is helping municipalities, developers, and housing advocates unlock the potential of missing middle housing through:
Data-driven insights that identify where gentle density can be introduced effectively
Zoning and regulatory analysis to uncover barriers and model alternative approaches
Infrastructure planning that aligns housing development with public services and mobility needs
Stakeholder engagement that fosters community buy-in and addresses resistance through education
Scenario-based planning tools that visualize the impact of introducing missing middle housing on affordability, sustainability, and demographic shifts
We help communities move from idea to action — overcoming institutional and infrastructure barriers to transform how housing is developed.
The missing middle isn’t just a typology — it’s a philosophy of inclusive growth. It recognizes that thriving cities need a spectrum of housing options, not just mansions and towers. By welcoming the middle back into our neighbourhoods, and using data to do it smartly, we can create communities that are more affordable, more connected, and more prepared for the future.