Sacramento Adopts One of the Most Progressive Missing Middle Strategies in the U.S.

Since our last update on the City of Sacramento, the Sacramento City Council unanimously adopted the Missing Middle Housing Interim Ordinance, becoming the first in California to allow multi-unit housing in every neighborhood. The Missing Middle Housing (MMH) Interim Ordinance is the outcome of a multi-year, comprehensive Missing Middle Housing Study led by Opticos in partnership with Cascadia Partners, Unseen Heroes, and Bill Lennertz. The Ordinance went into effect on October 17, 2024, and includes innovative tools like the sliding scale FAR to incentivize smaller, incremental housing that is more attainable for its community.  

HCPO 2024 Recap: Bridging the Housing Gap in Hawai’i with Innovative Solutions

Mitali Ganguly and Caroline Cochran spoke with Maui County Planning Director Kate Blystone and Kauaʻi County Planning Manager Jodie Higuchi Sayegusa at HCPO 2024 about innovative infrastructure solutions and private-public partnerships that may deliver attainable Missing Middle Housing in Hawai’i.

Over a Decade of Work in Hawai’i

For almost 20 years, Opticos has demonstrated our commitment to walkable island urbanism.

A New Missing Middle Community Rooted in the Culture of Athens, GA

This unique build-to-rent (BTR) community will offer compact, walkable neighborhoods and a diversity of uses and housing types.

Top 10 Tips for Cities Considering Pre-Approved Housing Plans

The discussion of Pre-Approved Housing Plans, or what we call a Pre-Approved Housing Types Catalog (PAHTC) is being discussed and considered by jurisdictions across the country to address the dire nature of housing costs. Small and large communities, and even the Canadian Government thinking about national application, are hopeful these plans can help spur delivery of more new housing and at a greater variety of price points. This approach, if implemented effectively, can be a way to reduce costs and time of entitlement and delivery of homes while elevating the quality of design and living offered.