Ali Rabe

Growth is painful for all of us who know and love this state. But we can't stop it. The question is: how do we grow? If we don't make intentional choices, we'll lose the very things that make Idaho a great place to live. Right now, Idahoans can't afford to buy a house in the town they grew up in. Teachers, nurses, firefighters, the people who make a community work, are being priced out. We're building for people moving in without building for the people already here. Can we accept that growth...

Idaho is one of the fastest growing states in the nation. People are moving here for the same reasons many of us stay: strong communities, good schools, access to the outdoors, and a quality of life that is hard to find anywhere else. But that growth has brought challenges. Housing costs have outpaced wages, young families are struggling to buy their first home, and local workers are being priced out of the communities they serve. The good news is that Idaho’s cities already have the tools to...

Across Idaho, people are searching for homes that fit their lives and budgets, but too often, the only options available are large single-family houses or big apartment complexes. What is missing are the homes in between—the small, neighborhood-scale options that used to define Idaho communities. These “Missing Middle” housing types include duplexes, fourplexes, cottage courts, courtyard apartments, and townhomes. They offer attainable, family-friendly living options that blend seamlessly...