Opticos Design, Inc.

Opticos’ Roger Foreman has always been fascinated by life from the past and continually asks why certain things seem to have disappeared. Things like dinosaurs, historic buildings, and yes, missing middle housing like the fourplex. So, what would happen if we brought them back? (The fourplexes not the T-Rex!) Reintroducing historic housing models in a contemporary setting is not a simple matter, but policies that incentivize underrepresented building types provide valuable support for much-needed housing diversity writes Roger for The Congress for the New Urbanism. https://lnkd.in/gpPAW3G3 #missingmiddle #cottagecourt #fourplexes

As the year winds down, it’s time to celebrate in community! ✔️ In 2024, we helped communities envision their future through charrettes, public meetings, and workshops in locations like East Kaua'i, Hawai'i; Florence, Alabama; Alpine City, Utah; Xenia, Ohio; and Firebaugh, California. ✔️We shared our ideas and Missing Middle Housing solutions for communities in speaking engagements across the US, from the Big Island of Hawai'i to Fairbanks, AK, and throughout the continental US. ✔️We co-hosted the Emerging New Urbanists' De-Code Conference in Tempe, touring the Culdesac Tempe community and Mesa Downtown and seeing our vision come to life. ✔️And, in 2025, we look forward to another year of placemaking and community building by kicking off new partnerships in locations like Nashville, Tennessee. We're continually reminded of the value of communities, both the ones we belong to and the ones we're entrusted to visit and guide. In 2025, as we celebrate 25 years, we look forward to another year of placemaking and community building. Happy Holidays from all of us at Opticos! (Designed by Kiara Gutierrez Forbes)

We’re featuring five mistakes cities and states make in regulating Missing Middle Housing, and will discuss why each is important to avoid, provide graphic examples of both good and bad solutions, as well as even better approaches. Mistake #4? Not effectively regulating form and scale to ensure ‘house scale’ So why regulate maximum building width versus letting the side setbacks regulate it? One reason: As the lots get wider, or if a developer is able to aggregate lots, it means they can deliver a much larger building that is not house scale when setbacks and building height are the only tools to regulate form. By regulating a maximum building width and depth, even if the lots get bigger, it’s still delivering a predictable form. https://bit.ly/41DvWR4 Daniel Parolek Jennifer Settle Tony Perez

What do umbrellas have to do with transforming a small town in Portugal into an international destination? Opticos’ Daniel Parolek provides some solid, yet simple, city branding lessons on how the town of Agueda used colorful umbrellas to dot the town’s main streets that eventually grew into a powerful city brand, known for its public art, music, and vibrancy. The lesson here? City branding doesn’t always require grand urban design projects—sometimes, it’s the small things that create lasting impact. What are other examples you can share? https://bit.ly/3D9bn58 #happycities #placemaking #walkablecommunities #citybranding #thoughtsfromanurbanist

Recently, Mitali Ganguly (AICP, LEED-ND) and Caroline Cochran presented with Maui County Planning Director Kate Blystone and Kauaʻi County Planning Manager Jodie Higuchi Sayegusa at #HCPO2024 about innovative infrastructure solutions and private-public partnerships that may deliver attainable Missing Middle Housing in Hawai’i. The panel identified some of the key barriers to housing attainability and tools to overcome them: ✔️ Infrastructure constraints, such as extremely limited water and wastewater capacity, are significant barriers to new housing production. Promising tools: Public-private partnerships to provide infrastructure, like the RAISE grant in Maui County. ✔️ District-scale infrastructure for large infill opportunities or strategic greenfield development, like the EcoDistrict studied for the Lihue Civic Center. Construction costs are amplified in Hawaii by the need to import building materials. Promising tool: Enabling small-scale multifamily housing (Missing Middle Housing) to build more resource-efficiently and provide market-rate attainable housing Currently, Opticos is continuing to work closely with Kaua’i County Planning to bring much-needed housing to underutilized parcels in and around the Kaua’i Civic Center in Līhuʻe. Mitali and her team recently returned from a workshop as part of Opticos' collaboration with Maui County and the Hawai’i Community Foundation to develop a County-wide Missing Middle Housing Plan and Strategy. https://lnkd.in/gdtW7jqz

We’re featuring five mistakes cities and states make in regulating Missing Middle Housing, and will discuss why each is important to avoid, provide graphic examples of both good and bad solutions, as well as even better approaches. Mistake #3? Limiting the number of units per lot versus regulating a desired form. This is an issue with density-based planning and the zoning system generally, but when you limit a number of units per lot you’re disincentivizing the delivery of smaller units which is really what most cities need mostly in terms of delivering attainability and affordability. Daniel Parolek Tony Perez Jennifer Settle https://lnkd.in/gRW7935u

Opticos worked with the City of Modesto to establish a comprehensive roadmap that expands housing choice and diversity to meet its current and future housing needs. Over a two-year process, and with community feedback through four workshops, Opticos carried out a systematic citywide analysis that mapped existing context types and lot characteristics, and identified zoning, policy and feasibility barriers for a range of housing types. We're pleased to report that our proposed zoning changes (creating two new Mixed-Use Corridor zones) from the Housing Plan were recently integrated into the Housing Element. Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/ePmvmHJQ Mitali Ganguly (AICP, LEED-ND) #walkablecities #housingplan #missingmiddle #missingmiddlehousing

We’re featuring five mistakes cities and states make in regulating Missing Middle Housing, and will discuss why each is important to avoid, provide graphic examples of both good and bad solutions, as well as even better approaches. Mistake #2? Treating the number of units per lot the same as housing types. It’s important to understand and be able to communicate about the different Missing Middle Housing types because each type has an intended form and scale, in addition to having an implied number of units. It’s not just simply about allowing a higher number of units per lot, but rather wanting units per lot to have a specific form and scale that reinforce a thoughtful approach to housing type design and neighborhood design. #missingmiddle #missingmiddlehousing Daniel Parolek Tony Perez Jennifer Settle https://lnkd.in/gMfKA8m5

Our Marketing Manager, Julie Ann Nepomuceno, doesn’t just talk the talk when it comes to Missing Middle Housing—she lives it! Julie Ann calls one of San Francisco’s rare, older courtyards home, exemplifying the vibrant, inclusive living that #MissingMiddleHousing fosters. Her personal connection to this housing type reinforces the authenticity and passion behind our work, showing how we’re not just advocates but also part of the solutions we champion. Bonus? Each cottage has an awning where residents hang hammocks—a reminder of not only the livability of cottage but the charm. #courtyardchronicles

Our Fall newsletter is out! Read more about: ✔ Sacramento paves the way for Missing Middle Housing as the Sacramento City Council unanimously adopted its Missing Middle Housing Interim Ordinance, becoming the  first in California to allow multi-unit housing in every neighborhood. ✔ Opticos launches an interactive housing priority map for Louisville. ✔ Our tour of Culdesac with the Emerging New Urbanists, while Daniel Parolek Parolek gets interviewed by local press. If you’re not a subscriber, get the latest news and insight by subscribing here: https://lnkd.in/g4e9vn4j And be sure to read our Fall issue here: https://bit.ly/4fYIZ3B