Changes to housing have long been a pertinent issue for communities throughout central Ohio.
A new survey by the Affordable Housing Alliance of Central Ohio, titled “Overwhelming: Central Ohio’s Housing Survey,” revealed that more than 75% of residents support pro-housing policies.
Carlie Boos, executive director of AHACO, said the survey was given out to numerous residents across several counties in central Ohio.
“We collected almost 1,400 survey responses. It was across 47 different cities, nine different counties in the central Ohio region. This happened in the fall of 2024,” Boos said.
Out of the almost 1,400 survey responses, about 75% supported different policies, the main three being an increase in missing middle housing, an increase in accessory dwelling units and major changes and updates to zoning, according to the organization's website.
Missing middle housing is supported by 78% of the respondents. Missing middle housing is described as duplexes and townhomes that are stylistically compatible with the existing homes in the area.
Boos said many of the survey respondents expressed a desire for missing middle housing.
“There's demand for (missing middle housing units). They're populated. They're not that much more difficult to build,” Boos said.
More than 80% of survey respondents supported new zoning reforms that convert commercial buildings into more housing, which will allow for more apartments near job centers, churches and nonprofits. This will allow for homeowners to create an accessory dwelling unit, more commonly known as an in-law unit.
Speaking on the zoning reforms, Boos said the zoning guidelines were written in the 1950s and desperately need an update. She said the process, though seemingly complex, is not terribly difficult.
“I think one of the things we're finding is it's just inertia and that they're big documents,” Boos said. “They are perceived as complex. They're perceived as kind of difficult to navigate and maneuver around, and sometimes it's just easier to ignore the problem than to do the work of fixing it.”
Boos said with the overwhelming support for change, now is the time for change to happen.
“This is a fantastic place to start updating zoning codes, creating more streamlined processes to build housing. It is zero budget impact, and it gives people what they want.”
Click here to read all the findings from the survey.