What does middle housing look like in Louisville?

Photo via Louisville Metro.

The shape of LOU’s neighborhoods could be evolving. Louisville Metro Office of Planning has proposed policy changes to allow middle housing on all residential properties.

What does that mean?

Middle housing includes six different building types — duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, walking courts, courtyard buildings, townhouses, and attached housing.

It’s short for “missing middle housing,” a term coined by architect Daniel Parolek in 2010 to describe the lack of options between single-family home and large apartment complexes. There is a national trend towards “re-legalizing” middle housing through various zoning and policy changes.

If you’re still curious, Metro has a guide to middle housing. There will also be two open houses next month where Louisvillians can learn about the proposed amendment:

• Wednesday, May 8, 3-6 p.m. in Alberta O. Jones Park (744 S. 23rd St.)
• Saturday, May 11, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the South Central Regional Library (7300 Jefferson Blvd.)