HOUSING TYPOLOGIES

Key Takeaways

 The research emphasizes that multi-family and mixed-income housing models are essential solutions to growing urban housing challenges. Multi-family housing promotes affordability and sustainability by consolidating infrastructure and maximizing land use, making it especially effective in dense metropolitan areas. Mixed-income housing further enhances community resilience by integrating households of various income levels, fostering social diversity and reducing reliance on public subsidies. However, both models face challenges such as design complexity, potential gentrification, and community resistance, which require thoughtful planning and inclusive policies. Successful projects prioritize equitable design—where affordable and market-rate units are visually indistinguishable—and provide shared amenities, services, and seamless integration into existing neighborhoods. Case studies like 425 Grand Concourse in the Bronx and Paseo Verde in Philadelphia demonstrate how sustainable, community-focused design supported by public-private funding can create vibrant, inclusive, and environmentally responsible housing.