Sew Much to Learn

This community ed teacher shares an important lesson about iterating to success: starting with something imperfect now and working your way toward perfection.

“How Can My Town *Not* Be Wealthy When There’s Been So Much Growth?”

Let's talk about some core Strong Towns concepts: complexity, incrementalism, fragility, and more!

The Reckless Driver Narrative Is Reckless. Stop Spreading It.

If we want safe and productive streets, we have to focus on the deadly design of our public spaces and not be distracted by the scapegoating narrative of the “reckless driver.”

Red Light, Green Light, No Insight

When we hand our whole transportation system to engineers, we shouldn’t be surprised that the values of their profession override the values of the public. It’s time for a new paradigm.

Here is Your 2022 Strongest Town Contest Elite Eight

Results of Round 1 of the Strongest Town competition…and a look ahead to Round 2.

Top StoryStrong TownsMarch 4, 2022Strongest Town 2022, strongest town contest

The Bottom-Up Revolution Is...Using Communicative Planning

Shelley Denison is a city planner in Sandy, OR, who views planning as a relationship between residents and leaders.

Podcast, Top StoryStrong TownsMarch 3, 2022taking action, The Bottom-Up Revolution, missing middle, urban planning

CityNerd Runs Down America's Most Humongous Parking Lots

“There may be no greater indication of car dependency in the United States than the sheer number of massive parking craters that litter our cities,” says this YouTuber.

Top StoryJay StangeMarch 3, 2022parking minimums, urbanism, end parking mandates and subsidies

Less Than 24 Hours To Vote in the 2022 Strongest Town Contest SWEET SIXTEEN

Get your vote in today for your favorite town!

Top StoryStrong TownsMarch 2, 2022Strongest Town 2022, strongest town contest

What Have Cities *Actually* Accomplished in the Past 100 Years?

The modern conceit is that we are far more advanced than the people of past generations—but how do our cities really stack up against those of the past?

Top StoryKevin KlinkenbergMarch 2, 2022history, urban planning, urban design, missouri, zoning

Corner Liquor Stores vs. Fancy Shopping Malls

Let’s #DoTheMath on some public infrastructure in Providence, RI.

"We Require WAY Too Much Parking"

This Strong Towns member saw a huge problem with the parking minimums in his city—and decided to do something about it.

Would Tax Abatements Spur More ADU Construction in Anchorage?

Like so many other cities, Anchorage needs to encourage more options for housing. But how?

Top StoryMikhail SiskoffMarch 1, 2022housing, housing crisis, housing policy, zoning, alaska, accessory dwelling unit

I Found My People...in a Completely Different Town

When a community is strong, it can make even an “outsider” feel welcome.

Annamarie Pluhar: Shared Housing Doesn't Have to Be Scary

It’s time we embraced co-housing as a viable solution for both affordable housing and social isolation.

Podcast, Marohn, Top StoryStrong TownsFebruary 28, 2022housing, housing crisis, co-housing, podcast

2022 Strongest Town Contest SWEET SIXTEEN

The seventh annual Strongest Town Contest kicks off today!

Top StoryStrong TownsFebruary 28, 2022Strongest Town 2022, strongest town contest

Friday Faves - Your Weekly Strong Towns Roundup

Pockets, highway TikToks, and reporting on traffic deaths. These are just some of the stories from around the internet that Strong Towns staff were reading and talking about this week.

Top StoryStrong TownsFebruary 25, 2022friday faves

High Value, Chapter 8: The Official Notice

This week in High Value, the Chippewa Lakes Journal fails at being journalistic, and Keith Nair struggles at understanding his colleagues.

High Value Serial, Top StoryHamilton LudwigFebruary 25, 2022High Value series, series

The "Lickety Splits": Working Around High Housing Costs in California

Small-scale developer Johnny Sanphillippo shares tales of Californians employing simple, low-cost, high-yield measures to get by amidst the housing crisis.