{"id":380940,"date":"2026-05-28T07:30:02","date_gmt":"2026-05-28T11:30:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/greenvillejournal.com\/?p=380940"},"modified":"2026-05-27T10:36:29","modified_gmt":"2026-05-27T14:36:29","slug":"missing-middle-momentum-greenville-pushes-for-attainable-urban-housing-to-handle-growth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/greenvillejournal.com\/government\/missing-middle-momentum-greenville-pushes-for-attainable-urban-housing-to-handle-growth\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Missing middle’ momentum: Greenville pushes for attainable urban housing to handle growth"},"content":{"rendered":"

Demand for housing continues to rise in Greenville as more people move to the city every year.<\/span><\/p>\n

The city\u2019s Planning and Development Department is exploring ways to expand Greenville\u2019s housing supply by promoting the creation of missing middle housing. This concept refers to house-scale buildings containing multiple residential units. Examples include duplexes, triplexes, four-plexes, townhomes, cottage courts, courtyard apartments and similar developments.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mary Douglas Hirsch, the city\u2019s director of planning and development, said missing middle housing is \u201cgentle density\u201d that can be used for infill development within the city. Missing middle housing is ideal in walkable neighborhoods near retail, food, open space and other amenities. These housing types sit between detached single-family homes and high-rise apartments on the housing-density spectrum.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re dusting off this concept as we\u2019re looking at a variety of tools to achieve more housing. This is not the silver bullet,\u201d Hirsch said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Construction of these housing types has been widely missing in the United States since the early 1940s. Existing examples can be found in neighborhoods and historic districts across the city of Greenville, including in Hampton-Pickney, Greenline-Spartanburg and the West End.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Missing middle housing can appeal to a range of demographics, from empty nesters looking to downsize to young professionals. Greenville City Councilmember Tina Belge explained that this housing type can also provide more attainable options for middle-income households and create homeownership opportunities.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve gotten pretty imbalanced in our homeownership and rental in our city and homeownership is just not attainable for so many people,\u201d Belge explained. \u201cMore missing middle housing is not only to lower price points so they can rent at a more affordable price, but maybe also purchase.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Greenville housing study and planning<\/b><\/h2>\n
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