As noted by Rhoda Bernstein [The middle isn’t missing, Viewpoints, Sept. 2] there is no “missing middle” of housing units in our area: 43% of the housing units in Oak Park are in the “middle” style buildings. In Austin, 63% of units are in middle buildings. In Berwyn, 44%. In Forest Park, 42.6%. In Elmwood Park, 37.8%. In River Forest, 27.3%. Cook County is 40.3% middle.
If the village board and the consultants think the middle is “missing” then they should tell us the target percentage and how many of our single-family homes need to be eliminated to achieve that target. Nationally, 27% of housing units are in multifamily buildings. Even if you believe this number is too small, it is not an Oak Park problem.
There are 9,747 single-family homes in the village. How many are to be replaced? 9,000? 4,000? How many new units in “middle” buildings are required to meet the goals? 40,000? 20,000? Does the board want to add 80,000 people to our current 53,000 population? 45,000? The board owes the residents a specific statement of their vision for the village. Why do they want to eliminate all single-family zoning?
Our village has evolved an excellent blend of residential and commercial buildings that serves a diverse population. It will continue to change incrementally under the current rules and processes. We do not need a dramatic overhaul of zoning.
Sources:
CMAP Community Data Snapshot, Oak Park
CMAP Community Data Snapshot, Austin
CMAP Community Data Snapshot, Berwyn
CMAP Community Data Snapshot, Forest Park
CMAP Community Data Snapshot, River Forest
CMAP Community Data Snapshot, Elmwood Park
“Multifamily Housing: Distribution, Building Size, and Gross Rent Across Congressional Districts,” Eye On Housing
“Young Americans Want Single-Family Homes,” Institute for Family Studies
Marc Martinez
Oak Park