Middle Housing

City Council adopted the code changes at a hearing on May 17. The code went into effect on June 16.

Get involved

Project basics

• Project flyer: Overview of the middle housing project with pictures of different middle housing types (in English and Spanish).
• Nov. 24, 2020 interview with Marcy McInelly of Urbsworks about the middle housing project in Gresham.
• Zine explaining middle housing and Gresham's project
  • Ready to read
  • Ready to print

Community meetings

• Introductory open house (Dec. 16, 2020)
  • Watch the Dec. 16 open house
  • View the open house presentation
• Community priority open house (March 4, 2021)
  • Watch the Mar. 4 open house
  • View the open house presentation
• Visual preference survey open house (May 13, 2021)
  • Watch the May 13 open house
  • View the open house presentation

Council and Commission meetings

• May 17 City Council hearing
  • Meeting recording
  • Meeting documents
  • Presentation
• April 25 Planning Commission hearing
  • Meeting recording
  • Staff report
  • Exhibit A - Draft Council bill
    • Exhibit A.1 - Draft Tables 4.0120-4.0131 - Residential district permitted uses and development standards
    • Exhibit A.2 - Draft Table 4.1130 - Downtown development standards
    • Exhibit A.3 - Draft Table 4.1408 - Pleasant Valley development standards
    • Exhibit A.4 - Draft Table 4.1508 - Springwater development standards
    • Exhibit A.5 - Draft Table 6.0321 - Standards allowed for PD residential developments
    • Exhibit A.6 - Draft Section 6.0500 - Middle housing land divisions
    • Exhibit A.7 - Draft Sections 7.0200-7.0400 - Design standards
    • Exhibit A.8 - Draft Table 9.0111(A) - Buffer matrix
    • Exhibit A.9 - Draft Table 11.0204 - Land use applications and review authorities
  • Exhibit B - Community engagement and outreach report
  • Exhibit C - Public comments
  • Exhibit D - Measure 56 notice
• March 29 Council Work Session on draft code
  • View the City Council presentation
  • Read the summary and draft code
  • Watch the work session
• Feb. 28 Planning Commission Work Session on draft code
  • Read the memo
• Jan. 10 Planning Commission Work Session on Senate Bill 458
  • Read the memo
  • Watch the work session
• Nov. 2 Policy Direction meeting
  • Watch the City Council work session
  • Ready the City Council agenda item
• Sep. 1 Design Commission
  • Read the memo
  • Read the draft code
  • Read the modeling summary
• June 14 Planning Commission work session
  • Read the memo
  • Read the draft design standards recommendations
  • Read the draft amendments recommendations
• Mar. 16 Council policy direction discussion
  • Watch the policy direction discussion
  • View the City Council presentation

In 2019, the Oregon State legislature passed House Bill 2001 to help increase the amount and types of housing available to Oregonians. The bill requires Gresham to update the development code by June 30, 2022 to:

• Allow duplexes on any lot that allows detached single dwellings; and
• Allow all middle housing types in any area zoned to allow detached single dwellings.

Senate Bill 458 was adopted by the Oregon Legislature in 2021. It is a follow-up to the House Bill 2001 and allows lot divisions for middle housing that enable them to be sold or owned individually.

What is middle housing?

Middle housing refers to housing types that fill the gap between small apartments and detached single dwellings including duplexes, triplexes, quadplexes, cottage clusters, and townhouses.

• Housing should be adaptable. Household sizes are changing and evolving as their members pass through different phases of life.
• There is a housing crisis. Not just in Oregon but nationwide. There is not enough housing or enough types of housing to meet people's needs.
• Homes are more than just a place to live. Especially during COVID-19. They serve as our workplaces, our schools, and how we take care of our families and friends.

House Bill 2001 frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions

More information about HB 2001 is available on the State of Oregon Housing Choices page.

Mary Phillips         
Senior Comprehensive Planner 
503-618-2610
Mary.Phillips@GreshamOregon.gov