The UMKC Center for Neighborhoods study focused on small apartments with 2 to 19 units that are also known as the “missing middle” of affordable housing and found that small apartment buildings are an important part of the City’s affordable housing stock. Despite this importance, in the CCED area, small apartment buildings are in high demand but also endangered due to a lack of access to capital.
The report details hour small apartment buildings have a high rate of local ownership and that neighborhood leaders value these buildings despite the challenges. The report recommends prioritizing CCED and Housing Trust Funds to prevent demolition and to preserve these buildings as affordable housing stock. Additionally, the reports recommends that the city should also work to remove barriers, including minimum lot size, zoning, and parking requirements that make it more difficult to maintain existing or build new small apartments.
To view the full report, click here.