RDG in the Media: Housing Studies and Community Input Give Local Agencies Insight
The Midlands Business Journal spoke with RDG’s Amy Haase about the challenges the city of Omaha faces regarding affordable housing.
One of the biggest challenges Omaha, Nebraska faces is zoning: currently, 80% of residential zoning in Omaha is set aside for single-family lots, which excludes housing options like townhouses, duplexes, cottages and small-family apartments. The gap left by these restrictions is known as the “missing middle” and is a roadblock in creating diverse and thriving neighborhoods.
As building and housing costs continue to rise, the City of Omaha’s Housing Affordability Action Plan, developed in collaboration with RDG Planning & Design, aims to close the housing gap. In an interview with The Midlands Business Journal, RDG Principal Amy Haase, AICP explains the impact the plan will have on the city, and the solutions it presents to address housing accessibility and affordability.
The OHAAP is a “starting point where we can build momentum and continue to find new and innovative ways to address housing challenges,” says Haase. She shares additional insight into the plan’s research, including that 67% of Omaha residents surveyed are interested in missing-middle housing options.