Middle Housing Moves Forward in Tucson

WHAT IS MIDDLE HOUSING?

Middle housing encompasses various housing types that bridge the gap between single-family homes and larger multifamily developments. It includes:

• Duplexes: Two attached homes.
• Triplexes and Fourplexes: Three or four attached homes.
• Townhouses: Row houses that share walls.
• Cottage Housing: Small, clustered homes around a shared space.
• Courtyard Apartments: Small apartment buildings with shared outdoor areas.

WHY IS THE CITY OF TUCSON TAKING ON MIDDLE HOUSING RIGHT NOW?

· In 2024, Arizona passed a law (HB272, the “middle Housing” law), requiring cities with over 75,0000 residents to allow middle housing on single-family lots within one mile of their downtown by January 1, 2026.

· However, the City of Tucson has been hosting numerous public meetings on this topics since May. Over 75% of participants supported middle housing citywide. Therefore, city staff are exploring a phased approach that meets the minimum requirements within the timeline with a plan to apply the middle housing rules citywide in future years.

WHY DOES AARP SUPPORT MIDDLE HOUSING?

· Walkable neighborhoods are tied to physical and mental health, environmental sustainability, economic vitality, and independence, all of which are important for older adults.

• Middle Housing helps older adults remain in their communities, maintain independence, and stay close to families, and age-in-place.
• Tucson’s housing market is dominated by single-family homes and large apartment complexes, leaving a gap in smaller, mid-scale housing that are well-suited to middle-income residents, older adults, millennials, and people aging in place.

WANT MORE INFORMATION?

Read the full draft proposal for Tucson: Middle Housing

Missing Middle Housing in Your Community Why + How to Offer MMH Choices- For Tucson, AZ: Prepared for AARP AZ, by Optics Design, INC: Missing-Middle-Housing-in-Your-Community-Reduced.pdf

HB2721: municipal zoning; middle housing HB2721 - 562R - House Bill Summary