Alex McCleary

Rendering of the Modular Middle Housing Complex, Alex McCleary’s project that imagined an affordable housing space for design professionals.

The Valley and state are dealing with a housing crisis, as prices for apartments, rental homes and houses to buy have risen dramatically. The Show has detailed many of the problems as part of our ongoing series, "Out of Reach."

Now, a look at some potential solutions.

This spring, Lora Martens’ students decided to try to tackle the issue as part of the seniors’ capstone project. Martens is an adjunct professor in Arizona State University's design school, where she teaches in the landscape architecture program. She says she was interested in having her students look into the problem; she’s worked on the issue of the so-called “missing middle” — housing between single family and high-rise, usually consisting of between 6-20 units per acre.

The Show spoke with Martens and one of her recently-graduated students, Alex McCleary, and the conversation started by asking Martens about some of the key takeaways from what her students as a whole put together.

More stories from the Out of Reach series

• Out of Reach: Axios report finds cities where homeownership by people of color thrives
• Out of Reach: Some think shopping centers could help Arizona's housing problem