Submitted by City of Carmel
Parolek
The Carmel Mayor’s Advisory Commission on Housing will host a public presentation, Missing Middle Housing, on Thursday, March 26, featuring nationally recognized housing expert, architect, and urban designer Daniel Parolek, founder of Opticos Design.
The Commission meeting will begin at 9 a.m., with Parolek’s presentation scheduled to start at 10 a.m., followed by a question-and-answer session. The meeting will be held in the Carmel City Hall Council Chambers and will be streamed online for public viewing.
Parolek is a nationally recognized leader in housing and urban design and is widely known for creating and advancing the concept of Missing Middle Housing – a range of house-scale housing types such as duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes designed to fit within walkable neighborhoods. These housing types help to expand attainable options for middle-income households and the choices many American families want.
The presentation is part of Carmel’s ongoing Missing Middle Housing Study, an effort led by Opticos Design that examines local zoning regulations and policy barriers that may affect the production of smaller-scale housing. The study will review existing zoning districts, analyze development feasibility, and identify potential updates that could better align housing regulations with the changing housing market.
Finkam
“Carmel’s continued success depends on providing a range of housing choices for residents at different stages of life,” Mayor Sue Finkam said. “This study will help us better understand how our current policies shape housing opportunities and how we can thoughtfully plan for the future while maintaining the high quality of life our community expects.”
During the presentation, Parolek will discuss the concept of the “Missing Middle Sweet Spot,” which evaluates housing solutions based on three key factors: feasibility for builders, attainability for residents, and livability within neighborhoods, strategies from their Missing Middle planning and zoning work from around the country and the creative Missing Middle Housing design solutions they have delivered in partnership with developers.
Findings from the Missing Middle Housing Study, presentation and discussions will inform the Commission’s work to expand housing choices that are both accessible to residents and compatible with Carmel’s existing neighborhoods.
Click here for more information about Missing Middle Housing and Daniel Parolek’s book.
Click here to learn about Opticos Design, where you can learn more about his award-winning planning, zoning, and architecture work.