GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — A couple of nonprofits are teaming up to create the first residential development of its kind in Gwinnett County.
MicroLife Institute and Gwinnett Housing Corp. are searching for a site to build a community of cottage-style homes, each of which would be up to 750 square feet in size. The announcement comes about a month after an overhaul of zoning and land-use regulations went into effect for the suburban county.
As the county grows, Gwinnett officials are trying to expand housing supply with a mix of small, attainable options. The Board of Commissioners made an update in late 2023 to its unified development ordinance, which allows duplexes, triplexes and similar types of housing to be built.
Atlanta is losing its affordable edge in the competition against other metro areas for economic development. The issue is compounded by limited housing inventory and high mortgage rates. Local officials are turning toward “missing middle” housing as a solution. The term applies to developments with the density and scale between a single-family home and mid-rise apartment building.