Q: Are You a Democrat or Republican? A: I'm Non-Binary.

Last week, Chuck did an AMA on Reddit and received a ton of great questions. Here’s some of the highlights!

Top StoryJay StangeJanuary 17, 2022Social Media, Strong Towns Community, Not Just Bikes, community building

Building Something from Nothing in Utica

This grassroots organization has taken it into their own hands to activate and revitalize their community in Utica, NY.

Top StoryArian HorbovetzJanuary 17, 2022bottom-up, community, community development, pop-up, placemaking, revitalization, public space, new york

Friday Faves - Your Weekly Strong Towns Roundup

Piano tuners, 3-D-printed houses, and masking and privilege. These are just some of the stories from around the internet that Strong Towns staff were reading and talking about this week.

Top StoryStrong TownsJanuary 14, 2022friday faves

High Value, Chapter 2: The Hallway

This week in High Value, Stark shares a secret with Hjerne and Nair that could spell ruin for one of the town’s residents.

High Value Serial, Top StoryHamilton LudwigJanuary 14, 2022High Value series, series, local government, small towns, urban planning

To Airbnb or Not to Airbnb

You might love them or you might hate them, but as small-scale developer Bernice Radle reveals, short-term rentals can be a very nuanced discussion.

The Bottom-Up Revolution Is...an Interdisciplinary and Incremental Leader

Andrea Marr is an engineer, a Strong Towns member, and the mayor pro tem for Costa Mesa, CA.

Podcast, Top StoryStrong TownsJanuary 13, 2022The Bottom-Up Revolution, taking action, city council, engineers, california

Placemaking with Places of Worship

Both urban and suburban places of worship have opportunities to stir the recovery of social gathering places in our communities. Here’s how.

Top StorySara Joy ProppeJanuary 13, 2022faith communities, Faith Featured, churches, public space, placemaking, creative placemaking

American Suburbs Are a Horror Movie and We’re the Protagonists

Walking alone to the grocery store is, for me, like walking through a creepy hallway at night. Why? Because America is filled with liminal spaces.

Population Growth and the Housing Crisis

A smaller population does not necessarily result in more affordable housing for those looking for it. But why?

Podcast, Top StoryStrong TownsJanuary 12, 2022podcast, Population, housing affordability, housing, housing cost, housing crisis, cities, upzoned, covid

There is Unrest in the Urban Forest

“Preserve the trees” or “clear the way for more housing”—which side should you take? (Good news: It’s a false choice, to begin with.)

Herriges, Top StoryDaniel HerrigesJanuary 12, 2022street trees, environment, urban design, housing, housing activism, housing policy

Faith Communities and Walkability

Strong Towns advocates and faith communities both want to create neighborhoods with vibrant economies that benefit everyone. A good place to begin working together is around walkability.

Top StoryJohn PattisonJanuary 12, 2022faith communities, Faith Featured, walkability, churches

The Carpetbagger’s Guide to Home Ownership

Johnny Sanphillippo takes a break from writing about his current real-estate activities to talk about how he first bought property when he was younger and infinitely poorer.

Top StoryJohnny SanphillippoJanuary 11, 2022housing cost, housing affordability, homeowners, housing, home buyer, california

In for the Night

Two neighbors share a small moment of connection through their plans—or lack thereof—on New Year’s Eve.

Neighborhood Storyteller, Top StoryKarla TheilenJanuary 11, 2022neighborliness, neighborhood storyteller, montana, pets

The Bell Tolls for Thee, Maine...

Many local jurisdictions put off paying the bills for big capital projects. But this month, the bell tolls for Maine.

Renderings vs. Reality: A Roundup of 2021s Most Egregious Development Illustrations

If a picture can say a thousand words, it can probably also tell at least 100 lies—as demonstrated by these development projects that did not turn out as promised.

Top StoryLauren RonnanderJanuary 10, 2022urban design, Diverging Diamond, intersections, pedestrians, design, walkability

Driving Went Down. Fatalities Went Up. Here's Why.

Americans drove less during the early months of pandemic, yet traffic fatalities increased—and have yet to go back down. And the “official” explanations for it are completely wrong.

Friday Faves - Your Weekly Strong Towns Roundup

German childrearing, jaywalking, and suspected Twitter bots. These are just some of the stories from around the internet that Strong Towns staff were reading and talking about this week.

Top StoryStrong TownsJanuary 7, 2022friday faves

High Value, Chapter 1: The Public Hearing

A small town’s planning commission clashes over a controversial zoning request. The first chapter of this fictional series reveals the drama that can result from local decision-making.

Zoning Desire Paths

Just as kids ignore sidewalks in favor of walking a more efficient path through the grass, homeowners in California are voting with their toolbelts to create zoning desire paths.