Chester County leaders are looking for ways to create more homes affordable to middle-income and smaller families. Chester County's population has quadrupled over the last 90 years to 534,000 residents currently, and growth is expected to continue.

As a result of the county's appeal and tremendous growth, it has the highest median housing value in Pennsylvania at $375,000. With the county's median household income of about $100,000 per year, many people in the county's workforce cannot afford to live in the county.

The county has an ample supply of single family detached homes, and the county funds development of affordable housing for lower-income families and seniors. The big gap falls in the middle.

Chester County's existing housing stock does not currently meet the evolving needs caused by growth and changes in its demographics. The number of one- and two-person households is increasing, which leads to more demand for smaller homes that are affordable for people living alone or on a fixed income. Chester County has anticipated the issue, and its comprehensive plan, "Landscapes3," addresses these changing needs.

The housing gap will require housing types such as duplexes, twins, cottage court/courtyards, and conversions of commercial and industrial properties into residential apartments, among other options. These properties will look like other housing types in the neighborhood but have more units within those structures.

Chester County is borrowing ideas from Montgomery County that the neighboring county has deployed to deal with the issue. Sarah Peck of Progressive New Homes pointed to three examples, including the Danley twin homes in Lower Merion Township, the Arbor Mews, and Arbor Heights Townhomes in Norristown.

A forthcoming report from the Chester County Planning Commission will make recommendations to expand housing options that will meet the needs of the "Missing Middle." They include zoning for these kinds of housing, encouraging infill development, and providing county resources to encourage this kind of construction. At the same time County officials say they must balance resident concerns about density, loss of green space, and potential traffic congestion against the need for this kind of housing by Chester County families.

A recording of the 2021 Housing Forum is available at: https://youtu.be/mocInFgsCZY.