Clark County is the recipient of $250,000 in funding to build more middle housing options.
The funding streams from Washington’s Department of Commerce, which granted nearly $3 million to 54 cities across Washington. The funding is meant to support the local adoption of plan policies and zoning codes to allow more middle housing in residential neighborhoods.
Vancouver and Camas received $75,000 each; Battle Ground and Washougal each received $50,000.
“Middle housing and accessory dwelling units can increase homeownership opportunities, add to the diversity of rental housing, and allow families at every stage of life to stay in the communities they call home,” said Washington Commerce Director Mike Fong. “Data show we need a million more homes in our state over the next 20 years to address the growing challenge of housing affordability, and middle housing is a critical piece to reach that goal.”
Middle housing refers to units like duplexes, cottage clusters, and townhomes and is intended to fill the gap between low- and high-income housing options.
During the 2023 legislative session, House Bill 1110 was passed, which lifts zoning laws that prohibit multidwelling houses and provides more middle housing options for residents. The bill creates more duplexes and triplexes with construction on residential lots in cities with populations over 6,000.
