Wallingford Duplex (1)

Duplex in Wallingford (Photo Credit: Sightline Institute) 

Middle Housing

The City is beginning to study options to allow middle housing throughout Shoreline, with a focus on low density residential areas. Middle housing is part of the City's Comprehensive Plan, which is a guiding document that envisions the future of Shoreline. The addition of Middle Housing is a result of HB 1110, which will increase housing in areas that have been traditionally dedicated to single-family detached housing. 

The MRSC recently published an article regarding the changes to Washington's housing laws. 

The City hosted a free presentation on Middle Housing on April 23rd, 2024. After the presention there was an opportunity to ask questions and receive additional information from City staff.

What is 'Middle Housing'?

Middle housing is one of the newest terms in housing, but it isn’t a new concept. Middle housing refers to buildings that offer multiple, individual residences inside of one housing structure that is compatible in size with a single-family house. Middle housing can also be a group of smaller structures clustered together. Middle housing is designed to blend in with single-family houses. Examples of middle housing include duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, courtyard apartments, cottage housing, townhouses, multiplexes, and live/work units. Each unit has a separate entrance and its own complete living space. 

These types of housing were once very common in America; however, in the past 30-40 years very few of these homes have been built. Most new development is typically single-family homes or large apartment buildings.

The City hosted a virtual public meeting on the topic of Middle Housing on May 24, 2023. Review the slide deck and questions and answers from the meeting discussion. Thank you to all who were able to attend and share their valuable insights and ask questions. If you weren’t able to attend or have additional questions about middle housing, you can reach out to: Elise Keim, Senior Planner at ekeim@shorelinewa.gov or 206-801-2553  

Why does Shoreline need Middle Housing?

Shoreline has an overall housing shortage that is part of a regional lack of supply. This has created upward pressure on prices, particularly in for-sale units. The current median home price may now be unaffordable for the typical Shoreline family. 

In a recent survey taken by the Washington State Department of Commerce, residents have said the top two issues within the state are the cost of housing/rent and homelessness. The City of Shoreline has over 60,000 people and 61% of those people live in a one- or two-person household. Shoreline is expected to add 13,330 households by 2044. What will these homes look like? Shoreline needs more housing and more housing choices for those one- or two-person households. Middle Housing is one of several strategies identified in the City’s 2021 Housing Action Plan to address the City’s housing needs.

Middle housing provides more variety and choices for households. Did you know that: 

  • In 2020, one in five Puget Sound renters paid more than 50% of their income on housing. For low-income renters, this figure was three in five.

  • A household needs to earn $150,000 a year to afford a median priced home. This is the equivalent to six full-time, minimum wage jobs.

  • Seventy-seven percent of residents across Washington State say their rent is too high and 75% say it costs too much to buy a home. 

Duplex Doors

Duplex doors (Photo Credit: Sightline Institute)

Benefits of Middle Housing

  • Middle housing, such as duplexes and triplexes, add diversity to the housing mix, not just in style, but also in affordability. 

  • Developing middle housing increases the housing stock and appeals to a variety of demographics including millennials, seniors, and young families looking for less expensive housing options in walkable neighborhoods. 

  • Middle housing can also appeal to the growing number of multigenerational households in Washington as a way to stay close to older family members who may need help caring for themselves but still want some independence. 

  • Smaller units found in middle housing can offer residents a quality living experience that is less expensive than traditional single-family housing. 

When are we doing this?

Middle housing is one part of the City’s update to the Comprehensive Plan, which is updated about every 10 years. Underway now, the 2024 update will be conducted through the filters of housing, climate, and equity and social justice. Middle housing will be an area of special focus the first half of 2024. Options for middle housing will be developed and considered as part of the broader update, with the Council adoption of the Citywide Comprehensive Plan anticipated by the end of 2024.  

Details about the Comprehensive Plan update are available on the Picture It: Shoreline 2044 webpage. 

You can print out our brochure for more information. 

How can I get involved?

The City will be reaching out over the next several months to get feedback, including though a series of focus groups on middle housing. We will be advertising these focus groups shortly. To receive updates on middle housing, please sign up for email updates to this project in the webform on this page or contact Elise Keim at ekeim@shorelinewa.gov or 206-801-2553. 

Compensation for Community-Based Organizations 

The City is also making a special effort to work with community-based organizations that represent vulnerable populations that have been disparately impacted by planning and zoning policies and practices. Community-based organizations will help inform and solicit feedback from their membership. Participation from these organizations will be compensated.  

Some examples of community-based organizations eligible for compensation include, but is not limited to, organizations that represent: 

  • Low-income populations 

  • Racial or ethnic minorities 

  • Disabled populations 

Do you know of or are you a part of a community-based organization representing vulnerable populations? If so, please get in touch with Elise Keim at ekeim@shorelinewa.gov or 206-801-2553 

What does Middle Housing look like?

Frequently Asked Questions

How will Middle Housing impact my neighborhood?
Who lives in Middle Housing?
What’s the difference between middle housing and affordable housing?
How does middle housing combat systemic racism while helping with diversity, equity and inclusion in my neighborhood?
Will the tree canopy be protected?
Is there room for parking with Middle Housing?
How does Middle Housing help with housing affordability?

Useful Links 


Translations 

English  If you would like to communicate with the City of Shoreline or review a document in another language, please send your request along with your contact information to clk@shorelinewa.gov or call 206-801-2700.

Spanish   Si quisiera comunicarse con la ciudad de Shoreline o revisar un documento en otro idioma, envíe su solicitud junto con su información de contacto a clk@shorelinewa.gov o llame al 206-801-2700.

Chinese (Traditional)  如果您想與 City of Shoreline 進行交流或檢視以另一種語言提供的文件，請將您的請求連同您的聯絡資訊發送到 clk@shorelinewa.gov 或請致電 206-801-2700。

Chinese (Simplified)  如果您想与 City of Shoreline 进行交流或查看以另一种语言提供的文档，请将您的请求连同您的联系信息发送到 clk@shorelinewa.gov 或请致电 206-801-2700。

Korean  City of Shoreline에 연락하고 싶거나 다른 언어로 된 문서를 검토하려면 연락처 정보와 함께 요청서를 clk@shorelinewa.gov로 제출하거나 206-801-2700번으로 전화해 주십시오.

Vietnamese  Nếu quý vị muốn liên hệ với Thành phố Shoreline hoặc đọc tài liệu bằng ngôn ngữ khác, vui lòng gửi yêu cầu cùng với thông tin liên hệ tới địa chỉ clk@shorelinewa.gov hoặc gọi 206-801-2700.

Tagalog  Kung gusto mong makipag-usap sa Lungsod ng Shoreline o suriin ang isang dokumento sa ibang wika, pakipadala ang iyong kahilingan kasama ng iyong impormasyon sa pakikipag-ugnayan sa clk@shorelinewa.gov o tumawag sa 206-801-2700.

Amharic  የሾርላይን ከተማ ጋር ለመገናኘት ከፈለጉ ወይም አንድን ሰነድ በሌላ ቋንቋ ለመከለስ ከፈለጉ ጥያቄዎን ከመገኛ መረጃዎ ጋር በማድረግ በ clk@shorelinewa.gov ላይ ኢሜይል ያድርጉ ወይም በ 206-801-2700 ላይ ስልክ ይደውሉ።

Tigrigna  ምስ ከተማ ሾርላይን ክትዘራረቡ ወይ ድማ ሰነዳትኩም ብካልእ ቋንቋ ከተገምግሙ ምስ እትደልዩ፡ ጠለባትኩም ምስናይ ናይ መርከቢ ሓበሬታኹም ናብ clk@shorelinewa.gov ስደዱ ወይ ድማ ብቑጽሪ 206-801-2700 ደዉሉ።

Russian  Если вы хотите связаться с представителями города Шорлайн (Shoreline) или ознакомиться с документом на другом языке, отправьте запрос вместе со своими контактными данными на адрес clk@shorelinewa.gov или позвоните по телефону 206-801-2700.

Japanese  City of Shoreline とのご連絡、または他の言語での資料閲覧をお望みでしたら、お客様のご連絡先を添えたリクエストをclk@shorelinewa.gov まで送信いただくか、 206-801-2700 までお電話をお願いいたします。

Khmer (Cambodian)  ប្រសិនបើលោកអ្នកចង់ប្រាស្រ័យទាក់ទងជាមួយទីក្រុង Shoreline ឬពិនិត្យឯកសារឡើងវិញជាភាសាផ្សេងទៀត សូមផ្ញើសំណើរបស់អ្នកជាមួយព័ត៌មានទាក់ទងរបស់អ្នកទៅ clk@shorelinewa.gov ឬហៅទូរស័ព្ទទៅលេខ 206-801-2700។