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

Member Post, Transparent Accounting, Top StoryMichael NatelliFebruary 9, 2023subsidies, local government, cities, big box stores, tourism, member story, Transparent Local Accounting

A Year of Building Optimism: 365 Days of Beautiful Modern Buildings

These buildings—all built within the past 20 years in the U.S. and Canada—show that we can still create things of beauty, and that gives us something to look forward to (and to fight for)!

Architecture, Incremental Housing, Top StorySeairra SheppardFebruary 7, 2023aesthetics, architecture, Incremental Housing, member story

The Christmas Present Test

You can learn a lot about a place by how easily you can do some great Christmas shopping.

Economic Development, Member Post, Top StoryMichael NatelliDecember 14, 2022local economy, localism, local business, shopping malls, member story

Main Streets Designed Like State Highways: How They Work and How To Change Them

Two prominent communities in Berkshire County, MA, are in the midst of deciding what to prioritize on their main streets: cars or people?

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

Speed Traps Have No Long-Term Effect on Speeding

This Strong Towns member was skeptical of claims that a speed trap had successfully slowed the cars on a local street…so, he conducted a speed study. Here are his results.

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!

Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? (Transit Edition)

Don’t be fooled: Winnipeg’s newly proposed “rapid transit” project is actually a road-widening project in disguise. And it aims to borrow money so the City can destroy millions of dollars of its own tax base.

The Bottom-Up Revolution Is...Community Design for Stronger Towns

Ann Zadeh is a Strong Towns member, former city councilwoman, and community design leader in Fort Worth, TX.

Fixing the Potholes Requires Digging Deeper

When it comes to our places’ roads, we need to start asking: “How much is this gonna cost us?”

#DotheMath, #InfrastructureCrisis, Infrastructure, Member Post, Top StoryMichel Durand-WoodJune 2, 2022Infrastructure, infrastructure, infrastructure maintenance, infrastructure cost, infrastructure spending, #DoTheMath, Winnipeg, canada, Canada, member story

Join the Strong Towns Toastmasters Club!

If you want to help spread the Strong Towns message, but are held back by a fear of public speaking, then this is the club for you!

Member Post, Top StoryJennifer GaughranMay 19, 2022member story, advocacy, taking action, nonprofit sector

I'm Making Real Change in My City

If you ever wanted to REALLY make a change in your town, instead of just starting a fight, consider this your manifesto.

Local Government, Member Post, Politics, Top StoryAllen AldermanApril 19, 2022local government, local gov, public engagement, community engagement, local politics, city council, city government, Municipalism, how to, member story

"We Require WAY Too Much Parking"

This Strong Towns member saw a huge problem with the parking minimums in his city—and decided to do something about it.

How Far Would You Go to Make Your Community Safer?

What if you had free rein to do the things you know need to be done to fix your neighborhood street?

#SlowtheCars, Herriges, Membership, Success Story, Taking Action, Top StoryDaniel HerrigesNovember 16, 2021taking action, Hawaii, member drive, member story, membership, success, success stories, #SlowTheCars

Confessions of (Another) Recovering Engineer

Fellow “recovering” engineer Kevin Shepherd offers his confessions: “Looking back now, I can say that many projects I designed actually hurt people and their communities.”

Member Post, Confessions Book, Engineering Profession, Planning Profession, Suburban Experiment, Transportation, Top StoryKevin ShepherdSeptember 20, 2021engineering profession, engineering ethics, traffic engineering, engineers, Confessions of a Recovering Engineer, confessions book, member story

Strong Towns and the "15-Minute City"

There’s a lot of conversation about how cities can become “15-minute cities.” What role does the Strong Towns approach play?

Success Story, Video, Top StoryJohn PattisonJune 25, 2021Washington, 15-Minute Cities, member story, success stories

Could You Move In Next Door?

Given our current pattern of development, is it overly romantic to want to transition through the stages of life while remaining in the same neighborhood, with the same people around us?

Housing, Member Post, Top StoryNorman Van Eeden PetersmanJune 23, 2021Canada, British Columbia, member story, success stories, missing middle, housing, ADUs, aging in place

The Bottom-Up Revolution is... Promoting More Housing, More Options, More Access

These Strong Towns members are helping build homes for those that need them and advocating for more flexible housing policy in Texas.

Podcast, Taking Action, The Bottom-Up Revolution, Success Story, Member Post, Housing, Top StoryStrong TownsMay 6, 2021The Bottom-Up Revolution, housing policy, Texas, member story, taking action

The Bottom-Up Revolution is... Reactivating a Historic Space for the Whole Community

Alex Rodriguez and Danny Lapin are incrementally revitalizing a historic space for entrepreneurs, artists and community members in rural Lexington, NY.