'Middle Housing' could provide more people in Louisville the chance to buy homes

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The majority of Louisville is zoned for single-family homes, but some people are trying to change that policy.

Middle Housing is not a typical apartment complex as its more comparable to Old Louisville duplexes and townhomes. It includes a range of house-sized choices with multiple units between single-family homes and larger apartment buildings, fitting the height and form of homes and neighborhoods.

Seventy-five percent of Louisville is currently zoned for single-family homes. Some are trying to change that to allow more people to afford to buy.

"I got a lot of beneficial information that is going to help me research and see how I can be involved," contractor Gerald Palmer said.

Middle Housing was built throughout older Louisville neighborhoods, but zoning laws eventually led to the end of Middle Housing construction decades ago. Officials at the Louisville Metro Office of Planning believe re-legalizing Middle Housing will expand attainable housing across the city.

Land Development Code workers met at Alberta O. Jones Park in the California neighborhood on Tuesday to tell residents about Middle Housing.

Middle Housing are multi-family properties smaller than apartment complexes like duplexes and triplexes or townhomes.

"We need to make sure that somebody who works at Ford has the choice of house they want near Ford," said Joel Dock, planning supervisor for Louisville Metro Office of Planning. "If you work at GE, you need a house that you want. If you don't want a yard, you shouldn't have to be forced to buy a home or be limited in your housing choice to a house with a large yard. There's a lot of options in between."

Mayor Craig Greenberg is pushing this effort to expand attainable housing across the city. The proposed plan would allow for areas currently zoned for single-family homes to have the option to be constructed as Middle Housing.

Contractors like Palmer think it's great for the area.

"It's an extremely positive thing, especially with a lot of stuff as far as affordable housing," Palmer said. "It's going to be present an opportunity for either new ownership or people just getting homes or maybe even newly built homes in a great part of town."

The Office of Planning wants to present the changes before Metro Council this winter. The proposed changes include six different Middle Housing types: duplex, triplex, fourplex, townhouses, walking courts, and cottage courts.

There will be another public meeting discussing Middle Housing on May 29 at Sun Valley Community Center from 4 to 7 p.m. There's one scheduled at Locust Grove on June 1 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

To learn more about Middle Housing, click here.

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