On building-permit data cited in the column, the Wichita region ranked #94 in the U.S. for all units permitted in 2025 and was lower on rankings for single-family homes and large apartment buildings. But the picture flipped for duplexes: Wichita ranked fourth nationally in 2025 for the number of two-unit permits, with 1,428 duplex permits issued. Duplexes made up 45.8% of Wichita’s 2025 permits—far higher than other urban areas, and the only metro among regions permitting more than 1,000 total units where over 40% of units permitted were duplexes.
The columnist also points to local efforts to curb the look of these structures. Several communities are reportedly considering regulations that would require features such as street-facing windows. In one exchange described in the piece, the president of the Wichita Area Builders Association warned the Goddard city manager that additional restrictions could raise builder costs, which would be passed to end users.
In the column’s view, the resulting “affordability” tradeoff is producing low-quality, widely replicated housing at the metro fringe rather than stronger economic and demographic growth.