As St. Johns County seeks solutions to its shortage of attainable and affordable housing, the Board of County Commissioners heard from a member of the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee on Tuesday, May 21, regarding “missing middle housing.”
Architect Greg Burke spoke on this type of housing, which bridges the gap between single-family homes and large apartment complexes. This includes smaller-scale structures such as duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, courtyard apartments and townhouses — these representing a common type of housing in America prior to 1940, according to Burke.
Euclidean zoning, which separates land use by type — residential, commercial, retail, industrial — has become the standard in America today. It has been blamed for a variety of undesirable consequences. Small businesses have been excluded from residential neighborhoods. People have become more dependent on automobiles, contributing to a rise in emissions and congestion on the roads. And there have been instances of housing discrimination.
The idea of restoring the “missing middle” supports housing for people within walking distance of work or shopping or, at least, offering access to transit.
Burke gave a slide presentation to show how diverse housing options can fit into existing neighborhoods. He pointed out how these options can make for good starter homes.
To encourage this type of housing, the county might need to look at modifications to its zoning, though there is some concern that the state’s 2023 Live Local Act, which aims to increase the availability of affordable housing, can override efforts by local officials.
There is little question that St. Johns County has an affordable housing crisis. In April, the median price of a home here hit $600,000, an 11.4% increase over the previous month and far beyond the ability of working-class families to afford. There is a growing concern that those working in “essential jobs” will no longer be able to live here.
