Planning for Housing in Lyons – Considerations
The Town of Lyons Housing Needs Assessment will take a holistic approach to identify and address the current and future housing needs of the community. This effort will combine a quantitative and qualitative analysis of the housing environment, a focused public outreach and education campaign, the identification of and refinement of housing strategies, and the identification of policy updates and innovative programs to create a more supportive environment for the development of affordable and attainable housing.
The information provided below is meant to be thought-provoking – a means to not only support community education on the topic of housing, but also obtain a better understanding of the needs and goals of the community. Throughout the planning process, we strive to couple this information actionable strategies and policy revisions to realize a future consistent with community expectations.
The “Missing Middle”
The graphic provided below provides and illustrative example of missing middle housing in general terms. Missing middle types of housing, such as duplexes, fourplexes, cottage courts, and courtyard buildings provide diverse housing options and support locally-servicing retail (and where available, alternative transportation options). We call them “missing” because they have typically been illegal to build since the mid-1940s and “middle” because they sit in the middle of the spectrum between detached single-family homes and mid-rise to high-rise apartment buildings, in terms of form and scale, as well as number of units and often, affordability. Allowing for a variety of housing types increases attainability and affordability for all in the community seeking housing.
The Town of Lyons is currently “missing” a subset of housing beyond the typical single-family home. While a variety of single-family type homes can be identified throughout the community, other types are difficult to find. While an influx of mid- to high-rise apartment building may not necessarily be appropriate for the Town, this disconnect leaves us with the question, “What is the right mix of housing for Lyons?” and “What types of housing would be appropriate to allow and encourage for the Town of Lyons?” This project aims to answer these questions and develop policy updates to address barriers to development.
Resource: Missing Middle Housing
The Housing Continuum
The graphic below illustrates the housing continuum – it shows the range of housing options, from emergency shelters to homeownership and everything in between. Each part of the housing continuum serves a unique need in the housing market. One size does not fit all, and ideally a community will have a range of housing options that are appropriate for its residents and workforce.
However, just because the continuum lists these housing options, does not necessarily mean that every option is appropriate for every community. Factors such as community size, the ability to leverage options and services in adjacent communities, and available land should be considered when developing a housing strategy to address the needs of the community and identify the appropriateness of each option.
