The federal government wants to help convert repurpose empty commercial space into apartments. Is this a plan that helps solves two problems at once — the affordable housing crisis, and repurposing the malls that now stand empty in our cities — or a bad idea?
Read MoreThe entire suburban experiment is dependent on federal subsidies. What’s a truly conservative approach to growing our cities? Freeing them up to develop in ways that are adaptable, responsive to local needs, and economically resilient.
Read MoreThink budget-busting infrastructure spending isn’t happening in YOUR city? Ask these two questions to find out.
Read MoreIn many cities, supply of commercial spaces far outstripped demand even before the pandemic. Clustering businesses together can be good for consumers, good for business owners, and good for landlords too.
Read MoreMany factors affect how much your local economy is being impacted by COVID-19. One is whether your city is cripplingly dependent on just one or two revenue sources. And especially if you’re dependent on sales taxes.
Read MoreA proposed waterpark next to Mall of America is in trouble. And the city that wasn’t supposed to be “on the hook” for the project very much is.
Read MoreTowns and cities whose economies relied on tourism are in major trouble. Even when the economy recovers, these places won’t soon go back to business as usual. Nor should they.
Read MoreDo you have some travel ahead of you this holiday weekend? If so, this might be a good time to check out several great podcasts that friends of the Strong Towns movement have recently launched.
Read MoreKansas City has spent decades buying into the “Growth Ponzi Scheme,” forever pursuing new growth to pay off old debts. Now the bills are coming due.
Read MoreIt’s only natural on a birthday to reflect on where we’ve been, where we are now, and what we want the future to look like. On America’s birthday, we should do the same. “Where do we go now?” We get to decide.
Read MoreL.A.’s freeways—like urban freeways in many cities—have a shameful past. They’re making the city financially weaker in the present too. So what should their future be?
Read MoreData, expert studies, and best practices abound for planners and policymakers. But they’re no substitute for humbly putting people at the center of our cities’ investments and attention.
Read MoreThe work of building a Strong Town is ultimately “culture-making” work.
Read MoreAmidst this new economic crisis, one community response may be seeing a resurgence: local currency.
Read MoreCities are complex…which means that our regulations shouldn’t be.
Read MoreHere are three local leaders you should know. Representing both local government and the nonprofit sector, they are listening to the needs of neighbors, and taking incremental steps to make their communities more financially resilient.
Read MoreComparing the process of furnishing two apartments—one in Ecuador, the other in the U.S.—was a reminder: order and efficiency aren't always what they're cracked up to be.
Read MoreIt’s getting harder and harder to prop up an economy that’s locked up trillions of dollars in the suburban experiment. We got here by not learning history’s lessons. Will we now heed history’s warnings?
Read MoreNon-partisan reasons we should all be wearing masks, monuments coming down across the U.S., how to convert front lawns into neighborhood spaces, and more. These are some of the stories from around the web that got the Strong Towns staff talking this week.
Read MoreWant to introduce a child to stories about life in the neighborhood and what it means to be a good neighbor? These great picture books can help.
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