Tampa Bay is in the midst of an affordable housing crisis, and a new strategy called “The Missing Middle” is being considered as a potential solution. This innovative approach focuses on multi-family structures like accessory dwelling units (ADUs) that are designed to fit seamlessly into existing neighborhoods. The city is actively revising zoning codes to accommodate these new housing structures, aiming to ease the housing crisis by increasing supply. Tampa Bay’s plans are still in the discussion phase, but a public conversation about ADUs is scheduled for December, which could be a pivotal moment for policy changes. Stephen Benson, City of Tampa’s planning director, emphasizes their community-friendly design, stating these units “play well with their single-family neighbors.”
What’s the Impact for Investors?: For those looking to invest in real estate, Tampa’s shift towards “The Missing Middle” offers a lucrative opportunity. This “Missing Middle” means more opportunities to build and rent. For communities, these new buildings are designed to blend in with single-family homes, making them more appealing to community aesthetics. For tenants, more options are available to rent. The city’s plans to revise zoning codes could open up new avenues for investment. As of the latest census data from 2020, there were approximately 78,000 one-unit detached homes in Tampa Bay. Imagine the income potential if each of these homes added an ADU.
The upcoming public conversation about ADUs in December could be a defining moment for Tampa’s housing market. For investors, this could be an actionable insight that could shape investment strategies in the coming year.