“The Strong Towns voice needs to be heard by elected and appointed officials across the US. ”
“Strong Towns is doing some of the most important work in this country.”
“Strong Towns is a simple concept with a never-ending depth behind it.”
State preemption can remove obstacles, but it can’t build the local capacity that's required for lasting reform.
Advocates in Lynchburg, Virginia, are proving that you don't need an official task force to make your city stronger. You just need to care enough to show up.
Charlottesville’s political wounds ran deep. Now, the city is turning to bikes, sidewalks, and street-level trust to chart a new course.
Adult friendships are difficult. A big part of that is our built environment, which often stifles social connection instead of supporting it. Kat Vellos is an author, facilitator, and connection coach who's working to change that.
Here are six proven techniques that allow communities to preserve mature trees while restoring sidewalks to safe, walkable condition.
Six months after wildfires destroyed record-breaking swathes of LA, only a fraction of homeowners have received permits to rebuild, let alone started construction. Chuck and Edward talk about why state attempts to encourage quick rebuilding failed.
In 2010, this community in Memphis, Tennessee, showed how resident-led, city-backed change can transform a place. That pattern is still playing out today.
Ashley Salvador is a city councilor in Edmonton, Alberta. A national leader in housing reform and urban revitalization, Ashley shares how she helped bring about a brand new tax subclass that’s making Edmonton safer and stronger.
Every town will be asked to grow. Maybe not today, maybe not all at once. But when that moment comes, how will yours go about it?
No matter how easy we make it to build, the existing housing system cannot tolerate lower prices. Chuck explains why and how we can build a better system. (Transcript included.)
When tension builds between grassroots action and bureaucratic boundaries, cities must choose: partnership or pushback.
A new ordinance removes costly parking requirements across most of Chicago, clearing the way for more affordable housing and business development.
Jeral Poskey is the founder of Swyft Cities, which is spearheading a totally new transportation system. Jeral describes the system and how it could address issues like traffic, land wasted on parking, and difficulty with infill development.
On Ash Wednesday, 1966, a highway carved up New Orleans, taking families, flowers, and futures with it. Today, the attempts to rectify those wrongs stop short of actually treating the wound.
John Locke’s 17th-century proviso can help us understand the tangled web of private property rights, public space, and parking rules in North America today.
A South Dakota agriculture company is being charged $50,000 for its road use. Abby and Edward discuss the balancing act of infrastructure costs and municipal budgets, especially in rural areas. (Transcript included.)
In April, a child was hit in a crosswalk outside a library in Annapolis, MD, despite the crossing's high-visibility signal. It’s time for officials to stop relying on signals and start redesigning the street to actually be safe.
Dr. Alicia Pederson is a writer and advocate who encourages cities to adopt courtyard urbanism. She explains the benefits of this development style and how to advocate for it. (Transcript included.)
Chuck is joined by Graham Campbell of the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission. They discuss the true cost of infrastructure and why both New Zealand and North America are facing the same challenges.
What do you get when you combine too much funding, a broken development model, and no clear priorities? A six-roundabout interchange built to serve big-box stores that are already closing.
You won’t see it on cable news, but some of the boldest zoning reforms in North America are happening in places with just a few thousand residents. Here are 6 towns rewriting the rules on parking.
Meet Burhan Azeem, a city councilor in Massachusetts. He’s expanded zoning for affordable housing, removed parking minimums, and helped build bike lanes throughout the city. Learn how he got here and what's next.
Chuck is joined by Quint Studer, the founder of the Center for Civic Engagement in Pensacola, Florida. They discuss Strong Towns’ involvement in Pensacola’s renewal and the Civic Leader Summit that will be held there in September.