Strong communities don't need (costly) external validation.

CityNerd: Which Affordable, Walkable City Should You Move To?

This week’s CityNerd takes you on a tour of 10 cities you might not expect to be the most affordable, livable, walkable, and transit-friendly places in America.

Housing, Video, Top StoryJay StangeMay 25, 2022housing, housing affordability, housing cost, Housing, CityNerd, cities

Can We Build Strong Towns from Scratch in the 21st Century?

We love organically grown, incrementally developed cities…but could we replicate their success if we started a new city from scratch?

Population Growth and the Housing Crisis

A smaller population does not necessarily result in more affordable housing for those looking for it. But why?

Can Navigating Your City's Budget Be...Fun??

Making city budgets accessible to the average citizen is crucial for building stronger places. Here’s 4 examples of cities that made their budgets not only accessible, but even fun!

Cities Are for Older People, Too

Aging in American culture comes with the association of loneliness, dependence, and isolation. If cites were designed differently, this wouldn’t have to be the case.

Public Space, Urban Design, Top Story, OwensTiffany Owens ReedSeptember 13, 2021aging, design, urban design, cities

Richard Florida: Remote Work and "The Rise of the Rest" (Podcast & Video)

In an era of remote work, which cities are more likely than others to attract talent?

Podcast, Coronavirus, Top StoryStrong TownsFebruary 8, 2021Richard Florida, coronavirus, cities

"Will Cities Survive 2020?"

In 2020, towns and cities were tested in profound ways by a global pandemic and social unrest. What effect will it have on communities going forward?

Podcast, Upzoned, Coronavirus, Top StoryStrong TownsDecember 16, 2020coronavirus, cities, Podcast, Upzoned

New York Isn’t Going Anywhere, and Neither Are Cities

New York City may be down but it’s definitely not out. A New York native reflects on what makes the city resilient amidst a deadly pandemic.

Coronavirus, Top StoryCoby LefkowitzSeptember 15, 2020New York, Coronavirus, cities

When should the state jump in to address local problems?

This is Part 1 in a three-part series about why our cities deserve better than cookie-cutter, state-level land use reforms.

Housing, Member Post, Small Scale Developers, Zoning, GardnerSpencer GardnerSeptember 8, 2020accessory dwelling units, ADUs, zoning, complex systems, cities

The future of "cities" is not just a question for people in New York or LA.

This pandemic will have long-term economic impacts on cities far beyond the coastal metropolises.

Coronavirus, Top StoryStrong TownsJuly 17, 2020Recovery, economics, cities, coronavirus

Are People Fleeing Cities for the Suburbs?

It’s become common for the media to run stories about a supposed pandemic-induced flight to the suburbs. But there’s a problem: it’s not supported by data.

Top Story, City Observatory, CoronavirusJoe CortrightJuly 10, 2020coronavirus, cities, City Observatory, Joe Cortright

If Cities Die, No One Will Be Immune From the Pain

Cities won’t die in a vacuum. When you see a vacant office building, what you’re really looking at is your pension fund going belly-up, a loan that won’t get repaid, services that will have to be cut.