Happy birthday to Asheville’s “Missing Middle Housing Study.” The report was delivered to city government two years ago this month. City Council had unanimously approved its commission about one year prior — along with its hefty $115,000 price tag — with the understanding that “missing middle” housing could be one of the more important tools in the toolbox for easing the costs of shelter for Asheville’s working families.

Unfortunately, the study’s recommendations remain untouched. Even worse, the city’s leaders appear now to be willfully fighting any suggested implementations.

“Middle housing” describes the residential building types that lie on a spectrum somewhere between suburban style detached single-family homes on one end, and high-rise apartments on the other. It means anything

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