Huron County is building ‘Missing Middle’ houses in Goderich.
‘Missing Middle’ refers to housing options in the middle of the housing spectrum. Houses like duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, rowhouses, and similar forms of housing.
The units are being developed after a fire damaged a single-detached home on the property in 2020. This event provided an opportunity to redevelop the site and the neighbouring property at a higher density.
The 6 new one-bedroom houses are smaller than pervious single-detached homes. They will better align with the current needs in Goderich.
In the past, County-owned housing has been primarily either apartment buildings or single detached dwellings.
Designed by Allan Avis Architects of Goderich, the new triplexes feature a prominent front entrance to one unit, a side entrance to the second unit, and a rear entrance for the third. Being corner buildings, care was taken to incorporate a wrap-around porch, 2 creating visual interest and providing a high-quality outdoor space for tenants. The ground floor units feature accessible entrances and enhanced accessibility features in the bathroom and kitchen.
This development is an example of ‘gentle density’, in that the design fits the scale of the established neighbourhood while providing multiple dwelling units. The County recently developed a Residential Intensification Guideline to help ensure new developments fit into existing neighbourhoods and these new triplexes adhere to those guidelines.
By providing a variety of different types of dwelling units, the County of Huron can diversify the housing choices available in its inventory to better meet the diverse needs of the community. Learn more about the Bennett Street Triplexes: www.connectedcountyofhuron.ca/developing-more-affordable-homes-in-huron Learn more about County of Huron housing: www.HuronCounty.ca/housing
Written by Kyla Close
