What should a duplex, triplex or four-family building in Cincinnati look like? Public voting is now open for the city of Cincinnati's Build Ready competition.
It's part of a larger effort aimed at making it easier and cheaper to build these small multi-family developments, known as "middle housing," by creating pre-approved plans that anyone could use.
Competition designs will help craft a future request for proposals (RFP) to solicit full architectural designs for six plans — two each for two-, three-, and four-unit housing.
The city received about 30 competition entries in each category.
Public voting is for the "people's choice" award. Submissions will also be evaluated by two sets of judges: a professional panel made up of experts like architects and developers, and a community stakeholder panel made up of residents, community leaders, real estate agents, etc.
Three winners will be chosen by each panel of judges, as well as the "people's choice" vote, one in each category of housing. There's no monetary prize, but winners will be recognized at an awards event on Sept. 14 at Memorial Hall, and could be featured in a national publication of the Urban Land Institute.
The Build Ready campaign is funded by a $2 million federal grant.
Part of the funding will be used to build two "demonstration projects" on vacant lots owned by the city or The Port. These would be in residential neighborhoods that are already zoned to allow multi-family housing of up to four units. The units would be income-restricted to renters making between 60% and 80% of the Area Median Income.
How to vote
Voting is open through Sept. 2.
Each person can vote only once, but can select up to three referred designs each for two-, three-, and four-family submissions. You can also leave comments.
You can see all your submissions and cast your vote on the city website at bit.y/BuildReadyCompetition.
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