This Florida Town Rode a Rail Trail to an Economic Revival

Residents of Winter Garden, FL, realized they needed to take action to revive their declining town. They did this by focusing on one straightforward goal: bring people back downtown.

Breaking News: Oklahoma Turnpike Authority Stops Work on $15 Billion Turnpike Expansion

Oklahoma’s freeway fighters are resting a little easier this week, having learned that the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority is halting all work related to the $15 billion turnpike expansion, ACCESS Oklahoma.

End Highway Expansion, News, Success Story, Top Story, TrendingAsia MieleszkoApril 14, 2023oklahoma, highways, highway spending, End Highway Expansion, success, success stories

History Teacher Steps Up and Starts the Conversation for Change in Bloomington, Illinois

Local Conversation leader Noah Tang appeared on the radio to talk about how his group, the Bloomington Revivalists, are making positive changes for housing in their community.

Incremental Housing, Success Story, Top Story, Community StoriesSeairra SheppardFebruary 21, 2023community, local conversations, Illinois, success, success stories, accessory dwelling units, ADUs, Incremental Housing, advocacy

Vermont Activists Help Abolish Parking Minimums in Burlington

The group Vermonters for People-Oriented Places just launched this year, but they’re already off to a fast start in Burlington, VT, where they’re supporting important changes for the community.

End Parking Mandates, Success Story, Top Story, Community StoriesJohn PattisonFebruary 13, 2023Parking, parking minimums, parking, End Parking Mandates and Subsidies, Vermont, community, local conversations, Community, success, success stories

Appeals Court Gives Group Second Chance To Fight Florida Development

The Conservancy of Southwest Florida has done the math on a proposed development in rural Collier County, FL, and what they discovered enabled them to take a large-scale developer to court.

Transparent Accounting, News, Success Story, Top StoryBen AbramsonFebruary 3, 2023Transparent Local Accounting, Florida, developers, Development, development, suburban development pattern, Urban3, financial solvency, success, success stories

Top of the Bottom-Up: Creating a Coffee Shop for the Whole Neighborhood

Coté Soeren’s “Resistencia” coffee shop in Seattle is a space for community connection and support, not gentrification.

Podcast, Taking Action, The Bottom-Up Revolution, Success Story, Neighborhoods, Top Story, Community StoriesStrong TownsJanuary 26, 2023The Bottom-Up Revolution, neighborhood, neighborhood revitalization, Seattle, coffee shops, gentrification, taking action

Pedestrian Safety Gets Big Boost From New Cincinnati Initiative

Cincinnati's new five-member pedestrian safety team is making their streets safer—all while saving the city hundreds of thousands of dollars every year!

News, Safe & Productive Streets, Tactical Urbanism, Success Story, Top StoryBen AbramsonJanuary 26, 2023tactical urbanism, Tactical Urbanism, Ohio, success, success stories, Pedestrian Safety, pedestrian safety, pedestrians, Complete Streets, Street Design, streets, Safe and Productive Streets

Lexington Uses Nationwide Precedent To Repeal Parking Mandates

In the past, city officals may have found it difficult to eliminate parking minimums, citing a lack of precedent. But now, other cities are providing the guidance that decisionmakers need to enact parking reform.

End Parking Mandates, Parking, Success Story, News, Top StoryAsia MieleszkoJanuary 24, 2023End Parking Mandates and Subsidies, kentucky, Parking, parking, parking minimums, Parking Reform Network, success, success stories

5 Cities That Repealed Parking Minimums in 2022

In recent years, a rapidly growing number of cities across North America have begun repealing mandatory parking minimums. Here are a few highlights from 2022.

End Parking Mandates, Success Story, News, Top StoryAsia MieleszkoJanuary 12, 2023End Parking Mandates and Subsidies, Parking, parking minimums, parking, Parking Reform Network, success, success stories

Top of the Bottom-Up: Taking Matters Into Our Own Hands to #SlowTheCars

After the local government did nothing, this Strong Towns advocate bought a dangerous road in her community and made it safer.

Podcast, Taking Action, The Bottom-Up Revolution, #SlowtheCars, Parking, Walkability, Success Story, Safe & Productive Streets, Top StoryStrong TownsJanuary 5, 2023The Bottom-Up Revolution, Hawaii, children, #SlowTheCars, walkability, Safe and Productive Streets, taking action

Top of the Bottom-Up: Building Gentle Density and a Grassroots Campaign for City Council

Ashley Salvador is a housing advocate and city councilor in Edmonton, Alberta.

Podcast, The Bottom-Up Revolution, Planning Profession, Housing, Success Story, Top Story, Incremental HousingStrong TownsDecember 1, 2022The Bottom-Up Revolution, local conversations, taking action, city council, accessory dwelling units, ADUs, Incremental Housing, success, success stories

From Fired to Fired Up: How One Strong Towns Member Turned Losing His Job Into Community Success

When Strong Towns member John Holmes was fired for speaking against harmful development practices, he didn’t let that stop him. Working with other advocates, he’s paving the way to success for Charlotte, NC!

Pattison, Membership, Success Story, Top Story, Community StoriesJohn PattisonNovember 16, 2022North Carolina, local conversations, membership, member drive, success, success stories

I Feel Most Effective at a Small Scale

If you’ve ever thought, “I’m not a great advocate; I can’t make the big changes my community needs,” then you need to hear what this Strong Towns member has to say about the power of taking small steps.

Membership, Van Eeden Petersman, Success Story, Top Story, Community StoriesNorman Van Eeden PetersmanNovember 15, 2022membership, member story, member testimonials, bikeability, advocacy, little bets, success, success stories

Maximum Impact and a Low Price Tag: Putting Paint and Planters to Work in Edmond, OK

Over the course of a Sunday afternoon, this Strong Towns member created a simple and achievable plan to transform a local street—all on a small budget!

Top of the Bottom-Up: Growing Food, Growing Resilience

Alfred Melbourne sees farming as a chance to bring back land into productive use, feed neighbors, and help guide young people down a supportive path.

Podcast, Taking Action, The Bottom-Up Revolution, Success Story, Top StoryStrong TownsOctober 27, 2022The Bottom-Up Revolution, local food, Farming, taking action

CDOT Leads the Way in Not Building Highways

Traffic headaches in Denver, CO, have caused the state to realize that widening highways just isn’t working, anymore. Instead, Colorado is making a huge shift in its transportation priorities.