Cluster housing alternatives: site layout strategies to address single family housing needs in Kansas

Abstract

This research investigates how modular housing and site planning strategies can provide more single family housing options for middle income households in Kansas. Many middle income families fall between income thresholds, earning too much to qualify for housing assistance but unable to afford newly built conventional homes. "Missing Middle Housing" refers to smaller, diverse housing types such as duplexes, cottage courts, and courtyard apartments that fit within walkable residential neighborhoods. In Kansas, there is an estimated 42 percent gap between the number of households seeking these housing types and the available supply (National Association of Home Builders 2023). Focusing on three communities: Strawberry Hill (Kansas City), Salina, and Cottonwood Falls, this research uses Area Median Income (AMI) data (U.S. Census Bureau 2023), precedent studies (Parolek 2020, Sim and Gehl 2019, Carney et al. 2023), and projective design proposals to compare traditional development patterns with more adaptable models. Many existing homes are too large for occupants, and zoning and land use policies often restrict the creation of smaller clustered units that better reflect today’s household sizes and family types (Karim 2006, La Gory, Ward, and Mucatel 1981). This study proposes planning strategies such as modular housing, shared open space, and flexible land use to better support community needs. These strategies respond to the current housing crisis by offering more attainable, adaptable options that middle income households are more likely to consider (Davis 2010, Webb 2014).