Church Members Propose Urban Village for Congregation

Parishioners of a historic church in Detroit want to develop eight vacant blocks with missing-middle housing to build a church-centered community.

The Pillaging of Detroit

Stunning new data analysis on the homes lost to tax forfeiture in Detroit shows that, in just a three-year span, $300 million in real estate transferred from homeowners living in Detroit to outside owners.

2 College Towns Leading the Way on Land-Use Reform

Although they stand in very different parts of the country, these college towns are spearheading the push to eliminate harmful, longstanding land-use policies.

"Should I Protest My Property Taxes?"

The process for appealing your property taxes can be obscure, even when the appeal is merited (and more often than not, it is). This simple guide will help prepare you for when your property is next assessed.

The Bottom-Up Revolution Is...Incremental Change in a Small Town

Cooper Frost is catalyzing economic development and pride of place in Charlotte, MI.

The Bottom-Up Revolution is... Giving New Life to Historic Buildings and Neighborhoods

Jenifer Acosta is a small-scale developer doing transformative adaptive reuse projects in central Michigan.

If "We Are All Detroit," then Woodward Avenue Is Everyroad

Woodward Avenue in Michigan is as good a spot as any to think of as the birthplace of the auto-oriented development pattern. But if we can see our past there, we can also glimpse our future.

Roads and Streets, Top StoryJohn PattisonJuly 13, 2021Detroit, Michigan, STROADS

Dam Shame

For decades, we’ve built like there was no tomorrow, prioritizing short-term growth over longterm stability, prosperity, and safety. Exhibit A: 20,000 high-risk dams that are emergencies waiting to happen.

How a Student-Created Co-Living House Broke the Law Then Changed the Law

A strong town is one that can adapt incrementally over time. Here’s how a group of climbing enthusiasts helped a Michigan college town do just that.

Success Story, Top Story, HousingAaron GerryApril 28, 2020co-housing, cooperatives, Michigan, incremental growth, housing

Church to be Demolished for Self-Storage Facility

If you want to lay up treasures for yourself in Roseville, Michigan, you’ll soon have a new option. But it comes at a high cost to the wallet (and soul) of the community.

Faith, Zoning, Economic Development, Top StoryCharles MarohnJanuary 27, 2020churches, storage units, subsidies, Detroit, Michigan

Low-Cost Pop-up Shops Create Big Value in Muskegon, Michigan

It's amazing what we can do when we think small.

Success Story, Top StoryRachel QuednauFebruary 20, 2018downtown, Michigan, small business, local business, page highlight, Muskegon

Mapping the Financial Strength of Traverse City, Michigan

Traverse City, MI was just crowned the winner of our 2017 Strongest Town Contest so we're sharing a collection of insightful maps and charts that illustrate Traverse City's financial strength (as well as areas for improvement), created by our friends at Urban3.

Top Story, Strongest Town ContestStrong TownsApril 4, 2017maps, mapping, Michigan, Value Per Acre

Strong Towns Featured on Michigan Public Radio

Listeners of Michigan Public Radio got a crash course in the Strong Towns message last week through an interview with Strong Towns President Chuck Marohn.

Success StoryStrong TownsFebruary 8, 2017radio, Michigan

Holland, MI vs. Carlisle, PA

Representatives from Holland, MI and Carlisle, PA speak about their towns' strengths and challenges in this Final Four round of the Strongest Town contest.