In a 55-page amicus brief submitted before Monday’s opening statements, the local NAACP chapter argued that single-family zoning has racist origins and that reversing Missing Middle would hinder racial progress.
“Plaintiffs claim that Arlington County’s decision to reform its exclusionary zoning scheme was arbitrary, capricious, and unreasonable,” the organization wrote. “In light of the history and harms of Arlington’s prior zoning policies, and the benefits of making them less restrictive and more inclusive, the County’s decision is reasonable beyond any fair debate.”
The group had supported Missing Middle’s passage on similar grounds, while noting that further efforts are necessary to fully integrate Arlington neighborhoods.
Opponents of Missing Middle contend that homes built under the county’s Expanded Housing Option permits will still be too expensive to significantly impact Arlington homeownership. While the new housing types were intended to be affordable for households earning between $108,000 and $118,000 per year, the median household income of Black Arlington residents is currently around $74,000.
