Our Missing Middle Housing Didn’t Just Go Missing. It Was Torn Down.
April 24, 2023 by In February, Decatur, Georgia amended its zoning laws to allow duplexes, triplexes, and quadruplexes in single-family residential zones, aiming to address affordable housing shortages. However, this change comes after decades of displacement and gentrification, particularly in Decatur’s Oakhurst neighborhood, which saw affordable homes and a diverse Black population replaced by expensive developments. Key moments in Decatur’s history highlight missed opportunities to preserve affordable housing. In 2003, a lawsuit to prevent the demolition of an apartment complex for high-end townhomes failed. Subsequent years saw numerous affordable housing units demolished and replaced by expensive homes, despite city studies and resident pleas for preservation. New zoning laws are seen as too little, too late. Decatur’s failure to act on earlier recommendations, such as the 2008 affordable housing report, and its reluctance to implement measures like moratoriums on teardowns, have exacerbated the crisis. The recent zoning changes are seen as a superficial fix rather than a comprehensive solution to the deep-rooted issues of displacement and loss of affordable housing. Had the city taken a proactive approach years ago, Decatur could have maintained a more inclusive and affordable housing landscape.