When done right, medium density is a good thing
It’s higher-density living that makes their streets and public spaces buzz. But, importantly, this density is achieved through a combination of well-designed mid-rise apartments (roughly six storeys) close to shops, services and public transport. This gives residents the best of both worlds: cities that are liveable and likeable.
The Conversation
Medium (gentle) density delivers good outcomes
Rob Adams describes how medium density along transport corridors is a good thing:
Medium density can be high quality and attractive
Beautiful, solid, long lasting 4-6 storey buildings are possible, we should demand them:
Medium density aligns with public and active transport
Together with mixed uses and public / active transport, density is part of where we want to be:
Our challenge
Our challenge is to develop a regulatory environment that encourages high quality construction, including beautiful, efficient, long-lasting 4-6 storey buildings that offer ‘layers’ such as shops on the ground floor, businesses above and residences above that. When combined with wide footpaths, protected bicycle lanes and frequent public transport, medium density cities are a win-win for both existing and new residents.
Proposal from YIMBY Melbourne
YIMBY Melbourne suggests a ‘Missing Middle Zone‘ to cover all residential land within 1 km of a train station and 0.5 km of a tram stop.
Example from New Zealand
New Zealand has reformed its planning and urban form guidelines, now requiring Councils to permit development of up to 6 stories when within walking distance of train or metro stations. The new rules are discussed in detail in this article from Greater Auckland Inc.
Support from Strong Towns
The community group Strong Towns (from the USA) advocates for planning codes to be reformed to allow the next increment of development.
Local champion
Your local champion for density in the City of Yarra is YIMBY Melbourne. View all of Streets Alive Yarra’s champions on our supporters page.
YIMBY Melbourne is a grassroots organisation advocating for housing abundance as a means of fixing our current housing crisis. Our organisation aligns closely with Streets Alive Yarra as a fellow group which supports safer, denser, greener, and more liveable streets. Density, or as we have put forward ‘Parisian’ density (six storey, mixed-use buildings) is critical to reducing the cost of renting/owning in the City of the Yarra by increasing the supply of housing. The beauty of Parisian density is that it offers a sustainable middle ground between the land-use inefficient single detached home and blobby high-rise apartment blocks. YIMBY Melbourne proudly welcomes the opportunity to be the champion of density for the City of Yarra. We hope to soon embrace a better world where Melburnians can afford to live where they would like to, be it in an apartment or above the shops.
Hugo Ymer, Outreach Lead, YIMBY Melbourne