Mayor Showcases Middleton’s Housing 
Breakthroughs at National Mayors Conference

Middleton, WI – Mayor Emily Kuhn took the national stage this week to spotlight Middleton’s innovative approach to housing growth and community engagement at the Mayors Innovation Project Summer 2025 Meeting, held July 30–August 1 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Mayor Kuhn was selected to present during the prestigious Innovation Showcase, a centerpiece of the conference that highlights cutting-edge policies and programs implemented by mayors from across the country. In her three-minute showcase, Kuhn shared how Middleton transformed housing development in the city—from building just 10 single-family homes per year to approving over 200 annually—through a bold, data-driven, and collaborative strategy.

“As an economist and mayor, I recognized a clear mismatch in our city’s housing supply and demand,” Kuhn explained during her presentation. “We took a multi-pronged approach—updating our zoning code, auditing incentives, gathering local data, and, most importantly, working together with staff, developers, and residents to move Middleton from good to great.”

Mayor Kuhn’s presentation highlighted:

- The city’s comprehensive housing survey received over 500 resident responses in one week.

- Direct outreach to developers and residents to understand real housing needs and barriers.

- Middleton’s zoning ordinance rewrite—now the most progressive in Wisconsin—supports smaller homes, accessory dwelling units (ADUs), and reduced short-term rental restrictions.

- Improved internal and external communications, including streamlined permitting and quarterly leadership meetings.

The Mayors Innovation Project conference brought together mayors and city leaders from across the country to share best practices and explore solutions to critical urban challenges. Kuhn’s showcase was one of several standout presentations demonstrating how local leadership can address housing shortages with creativity, pragmatism, and community support.

For more information about the Mayor's Innovation Project, visit mayorsinnovation.org.