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Coldwater sees strong demand for 'missing middle' housing amid limited unit growth
Summary
Consultants and city staff told attendees that Coldwater added roughly 3,000 people but only about 344 housing units in the last decade; survey respondents favored townhomes and other 'missing middle' housing types, signaling a need to diversify housing options.
Consultants told a Coldwater master‑plan open house that the city’s recent population growth has not been matched by housing construction, creating pressure on the local housing market and notable demand for ‘missing middle’ housing types.
Julie of Progressive Companies said Coldwater’s population rose about 27.1% from 2013 to 2023; after accounting for how a prison population was counted, that growth is about 14.5% but remains well above county and state rates. During that period, the consultant reported Coldwater gained roughly 3,000 people while adding approximately 344 housing units, a gap that — together with an average household size of 2.63 — suggests crowded households and unmet demand.
Survey findings presented by staff and consultants showed strong resident interest in housing types that currently represent a small share of the city’s stock: for example, townhomes account for about 5% of existing housing but nearly 30% of respondents said they would like to see more townhomes. Julie described these preferences as part of a broader “missing middle” demand that includes duplexes, townhomes and smaller multiunit buildings that can integrate into existing neighborhoods.
Staff also highlighted affordability pressures: Coldwater’s median household income trails county and state medians while home‑values and rents have risen; the presentation cited a roughly 56% increase in median home price since 2017 and a higher renter share (~40%) compared with Branch County (~20%), leaving many households paying a large share of income on housing.
Attendees were invited to mark preferred locations for future housing on an interactive map (open‑house boards noted potential sites including the north‑side prison parcel and the Franklin School site) and to comment on draft goals intended to expand housing options as part of the master plan.
