April 18 Akron Planning Commission meeting
Covered by Documenter London Green (see her notes here)
Middlebury Housing LLC is taking on another construction venture and plans to build three new two-family homes at 733, 737 and 745 Excelsior Ave. on vacant lots in Akron’s Middlebury neighborhood.
The Akron Planning Commission voted unanimously in favor of the group’s proposal at its April 18 meeting. The proposal will go to City Council next for its consideration and potential approval.
The construction of these units aligns with the 2019 Middlebury Neighborhood Plan, which aims to provide housing at price ranges that meet the requirements and desires of the city’s population. The plan was developed by a coalition of participants from The Well CDC as well as “neighbors, business owners, leaders from non-profit and community-based organizations, and the City of Akron.
According to city planners, the proposed housing is compatible with dwellings already in the neighborhood. In an eight-block area around the proposed lots, 23 of the 74 (or 31%) residential buildings are two-family or multifamily structures.
The Neighborhood Plan promotes the development of these full-range types of housing, which it refers to as “missing middles.” These include townhouses, two-family units and small multi-family units.
Suggested Reading
An Akron neighborhood guide to Middlebury
In the mid-1950s, when sisters Frances Sutter and Carol Dullen were 9 and 6 years old, respectively, they moved into a house on Upson Street in Akron’s Middlebury neighborhood with their family. Nearly 60 years later, their childhood home is no longer standing, but both Sutter and Dullen own houses on Upson and are active…
What will the new units look like?
The homes will be two-and-one-half stories tall with first-floor and upper-floor units. First-floor units will have three bedrooms with one bath and upper units will have four bedrooms with two baths. These dwellings will feature full front porches, gable roofs and vinyl siding.
What are ‘missing middle’ homes?
Missing middle housing refers to providing diverse housing options along the spectrum of affordability, according to the National League of Cities and the Congress for the New Urbanism.
These building types can include:
- Duplexes
- Fourplexes
- Bungalows
- Cottage courts (groupings of small houses arranged around a shared courtyard or common area)
- Cluster homes
These housing options support local retail and public transportation options.
They are referred to as “middles” because they can sit in between detached single-family homes and mid- to high-rise apartments. This housing type isn’t new —typically such units exist in cities and towns that have high housing demand.
What benefits will these new homes offer?
There are multiple benefits, according to city planners, including:
- Providing affordable housing options in comparison to buying or renting a full-size, single-family detached home.
- Making home ownership more accessible.
- Creating housing that is accessible to older people. The first-floor units are more suitable for those with mobility challenges.
- Connecting with mass transit. The Middlebury units will be close to METRO RTA bus lines offering access to jobs, schools and more. Living close to transit can reduce the cost of transportation for residents while also supporting the METRO system.
The plan designates Excelsior Avenue as a possible location for these homes. The development aims to meet the city’s critical goals of repopulating neighborhoods while providing affordable housing and transportation choices for residents.