An Abandoned Downtown Equals a Pot of Gold?

Developers are starting to view downtown abandoned office buildings as easy cash—that is, if you can find the right sort of abandoned office.

Podcast, Upzoned, Top Story 2Strong TownsMay 3, 2023Podcast, podcast, Upzoned, developers, development pattern, downtown, redevelopment

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.

I’m Excited That My City Is Charging More for Parking

Milwaukee, WI, is now going to start charging more for parking in downtown. Here’s why that’s something to celebrate, rather than bemoan.

End Parking Mandates, Top StoryRachel QuednauApril 12, 2023Parking, parking, End Parking Mandates and Subsidies, parking pricing, Parking pricing, Wisconsin, parking meters, Parking Reform Network, downtown

Can a Stadium Save Philadelphia’s “Dead Zone”?

This arena promises to revitalize a portion of Philadelphia’s downtown that has been in economic decline. Here’s why locals are skeptical of these promises.

Top StoryAsia MieleszkoApril 11, 2023downtown, stadium, economic development, Economic Development, revitalization, Pennsylvania

What's Actually Wrong With This Building?

Heated discussion about a new condo in Sarasota, FL, has got locals calling the building an eyesore. But is this a case of misdirected ire?

Architecture, Herriges, Urban Design, Top StoryDaniel HerrigesJanuary 25, 2023architecture, design, density, f, Florida, downtown, zoning, urban design

A Massive Top-Down Plan To Fix a Massive Top-Down Mistake

Half a century ago, Kansas City destroyed its downtown to make way for parking. What if we used that same no-constraints, top-down approach, but this time to right the wrongs of the past?

Edward Erfurt, End Parking Mandates, Parking, Top StoryEdward ErfurtDecember 16, 2022redevelopment, Kansas City, Parking, parking, End Parking Mandates and Subsidies, top-down, downtown, Infill Development, infill, missouri, Missouri

Mere's Magic Universe and Tea

This week, our Neighborhood Storyteller connects with a new community and its residents through exploring downtown and some local businesses.

Neighborhood Storyteller, Theilen, Community, Top StoryKarla TheilenNovember 13, 2022neighborhood storyteller, downtown, local business, community, localism, montana

The Bottom-Up Revolution Is…a Mayor Working for Safe Streets and a Thriving Downtown

Mayor Erin Stewart is helping create a brighter future for New Britain, CT.

Podcast, The Bottom-Up Revolution, Top Story, Success Story, Local GovernmentStrong TownsSeptember 22, 2022Podcast, Connecticut, downtown, elected officials

Build Galesburg for People, Not Cars

Galesburg, IL, is talking about Strong Towns ideas, centered around a question that many Strong Towns readers are familiar with: “Is our downtown built for cars instead of people?”

Sheppard, Urban Design, Top StorySeairra SheppardAugust 23, 2022downtown, Small Towns, main street, car dependency, auto-oriented, people centered places, design, Illinois, incrementalism, bottom-up

Stanwood Mulls Strong Towns-Style Main Street Makeover

This small town is considering overhauling its main street to embrace walkability and good old-fashioned main street urbanism.

Success Story, Urban Design, Top StoryDoug TrummJune 13, 2022Washington, Small Towns, downtown, main street, Traditional Main Street, revitalization, walkability, urbanism, success, success stories, rural

Seeing the Glass as Half Full: Exploring the Reuse Opportunity for Houses of Worship on Main Street

Up to one-third of all houses of worship in the United States will have closed over the next few years. What will we do with the spaces they leave behind?

Faith, Top StoryRick ReinhardMay 20, 2022churches, Religion, religion, main street, downtown, revitalization, public institutions, Faith Featured, faith communities

Strong Towns Need Strong Downtowns

A crucial part of making your city or town stronger lies in revitalizing your downtown. Here’s how one Local Conversation organizer is doing that work in her place.

#StrongCitizens, Community, Pattison, Top StoryJohn PattisonMay 18, 2022advocacy, main street, Traditional Main Street, Small Towns, small towns, Louisiana, community, Community, local economy, downtown

Searching for Mr. Stavros

A small house, framed by lilacs, in a walkable neighborhood—and the charm of sharing that space with a neighbor who seems to always be out and about.

Neighborhood Storyteller, Theilen, Walkability, Top StoryKarla TheilenMarch 22, 2022neighborhood storyteller, montana, walkability, downtown, neighborliness

Recovery Playbook: Back to Downtown & Main Street

This guide will take you through short-term and long-term strategies for downtown and Main Street recovery in the wake (and midst) of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Coronavirus, Economic Development, Strategies, Top StoryJonathan BerkMarch 11, 2022coronavirus, placemaking, creative placemaking, downtown, main street, Traditional Main Street, urbanism, revitalization, how to, economic development, Economic Development

Lessons from Mount Morris

In a world of real estate investors seeking quick profits, we need more people like Greg O'Connell.

Community, Economic Development, Small Scale Developers, Success Story, Top StoryJonah RichardSeptember 14, 2021success, success stories, downtown, community development, community, developers, New York

Ogden and the Storage Wars

Storage facilities have no place in a productive, walkable downtown. Here’s a case study showing why, and how to deal with the problem.

#DotheMath, Davis, Urban Design, Top StorySarah DavisSeptember 8, 2021downtown, Utah, storage units, Urban3, Land Use, walkability, #DoTheMath

COVID Reveals the Unsustainability of Monoculture Downtowns

COVID has changed the way people think about the future of office work. What does this mean for office-heavy downtowns?

Upzoned, Podcast, Coronavirus, Suburban Experiment, Top StoryStrong TownsJuly 21, 2021Podcast, Upzoned, coronavirus, downtown, suburban experiment

Small-Scale Manufacturing: A Key to Revitalizing Your Downtown

Check out this preview of Ilana Preuss’s Recast Your City to find out how small-scale manufacturing can help bring struggling neighborhoods back to life.

Economic Development, Taking Action, Top StoryIlana PreussJuly 16, 2021books, downtown, small business, manufacturing, taking action

Housing, Not Lodging

Annapolis's downtown has become dominated by short-term rentals, and it’s beginning to degrade the community’s social capital.

Member Post, Community, Housing, Neighborhoods, Top StoryAlex PlineJune 16, 2021housing, tourism, social capital, downtown, Alex Pline, annapolis

The Bottom-Up Revolution is... Working Together to Make a Street for People

How one urban advocate helped transform a downtown street into a pedestrian-friendly public space— plus tips for how you can do the same in your own city.

Podcast, Taking Action, The Bottom-Up Revolution, Success Story, Walkability, Top Story, Roads and StreetsStrong TownsDecember 3, 2020The Bottom-Up Revolution, streets, open streets, Canada, local business, downtown, taking action

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