On the Conservative Reaction to 15-Minute Cities

On today’s episode of the Strong Towns Podcast, Chuck Marohn dives into controversies surrounding the concept of the 15-minute city.

Podcast, Marohn, ST Podcast, Walkability, Top StoryStrong TownsMarch 13, 2023Podcast, podcast, walkability, 15-Minute Cities, politics, mixed use, Neighborhoods

Seniors Have Large Suburban Houses To Sell. Does Anyone Want Them?

With many baby boomers wanting to downsize, the housing market is dominated by large, single-family homes…but that’s not the kind of housing that’s in demand, anymore. Here’s why this is bad news for all generations.

Incremental Housing, Trending, Top StoryBen AbramsonFebruary 9, 2023Incremental Housing, housing, housing affordability, housing crisis, Housing Crisis, housing market, seniors, single-family, missing middle, mixed use

Parking, Pizza, and Apartments at the Mall

The way we build our neighborhoods in North America is nothing like making a pizza. But maybe it should be.

Incremental Housing, Top Story 2Michel Durand-WoodJanuary 31, 2023canada, Canada, Development, development pattern, development, traditional development pattern, mixed use, neighborhood, Neighborhoods, incrementalism, resilience, Incremental Housing

Recovering the Lost Art of Mixed-Use Development

Mixed-use development was once the norm in cities and towns, but most Americans no longer remember how it works. Here are 3 easy-to-understand forms that mixed use could (and should) take in your community.

Edward Erfurt, Planning Profession, Zoning, Top Story 2, Incremental HousingEdward ErfurtDecember 2, 2022mixed use, development pattern, traditional development pattern, urban planning, Development, development, planning profession, planning process

Battle of the Business Titans

A small, local, mixed-use business versus a new Amazon warehouse. Let’s put these two business proposals before the Shark Tank (Winnipeg edition).

The Magic of Legacy Shops Comes Back to Life in Buffalo

If you live in a city or town with old, abandoned storefronts, this one’s for you!

Neighborhoods, Small Scale Developers, Success Story, Top StoryBernice RadleMay 17, 2022business, small business, local business, coffee shops, New York, small-scale developers, traditional development pattern, mixed use, success, success stories

The Village of Providence and Its Supposedly Impossible Stuff

You might not guess by looking, but this traditional neighborhood development is an employment powerhouse.

Economic Development, Neighborhoods, Success Story, Top StorySteve MouzonApril 11, 2022Entrepreneurship, entrepreneurship, mixed use, traditional development pattern, neighborhood, Neighborhoods, alabama, success, success stories, business, local business

CNBC Tackles the Growth Ponzi Scheme

You don’t want to miss this CNBC documentary video about the financial fragility of the suburban development pattern.

Growth Ponzi Scheme, Suburban Experiment, Video, Top StoryLauren FisherApril 11, 2022Growth Ponzi Scheme, suburban experiment, suburban development pattern, mixed use, housing, Development, development pattern, development

Praise for Small, Mixed-Use Buildings

It’s time we change our zoning rules to allow more small commercial spaces to help spice up and enliven our residential streets and neighborhoods.

Zoning, Top StorySeth ZerenMarch 30, 2022zoning, Rhode Island, walkability, commercial real estate, mixed use, corner store, corner stores

Can Corporate Campuses Urbanize the Suburban Experience?

Some large companies are pivoting their real-estate models toward building more compact, mixed-use centers for their corporate campuses. Is this good or bad for America’s suburbs?

Upzoned, Podcast, Suburban Experiment, Top StoryStrong TownsFebruary 2, 2022Podcast, podcast, Upzoned, business, business parks, suburban experiment, suburban development pattern, urbanism, mixed use

How Can I Pitch the Idea of Allowing Some Commerce in Residential Areas?

How do I pitch the idea of rezoning residential neighborhoods to allow limited commerce to my city council?

Knowledge Base, Top StoryStrong TownsFebruary 1, 2019local business, mixed use

The Failure of "Just Add Water" Urbanism

To assume that a street-forward, mixed use development will activate a lifeless area is like assuming that gardening is a matter of “just add water.” In reality, different urban environments—like different soils, climates, and plants—require different elements of care.

Horbovetz, Top Story, WalkabilityArian HorbovetzOctober 9, 2018suburban retrofit, #OrderlyButDumb, mixed use, retail, page highlight

Why Is That House or Storefront Vacant?

In an area where the population is growing, one question often vexes neighbors: why is that house or storefront vacant? It just doesn’t seem to make sense. Why do landlords leave properties empty when they could be getting rent?

Finance, Economic Development, Cost of Development, Top StoryTracy Hadden Loh and Michael RodriguezAugust 30, 2018retail, mixed use, Washington DC

Mixed Up Priorities for Mixed-Use Buildings

Strong, financially resilient neighborhoods emerge organically. Requiring one particular style of construction because we've see it work in other neighborhoods will not achieve this goal.

#ChaoticButSmart, Gray, Small Scale Developers, Top StoryNolan GrayJanuary 9, 2018mixed use, development, page highlight

Give it another century and we'll see how it goes.

The key to building a stronger town is cultivating dynamic household economies. Cities across the globe have mastered this. Why can't we?

Sanphillippo, Top Story, Urban DesignJohnny SanphillippoNovember 9, 2017traditional development pattern, mixed use, local economy

Turning “Renewal” into Renaissance: The Transformation of Downtown Rochester

After years of neglect, downtown Rochester has found an unexpected ally: residents.

Urban Design, MaitlandAustin MaitlandAugust 15, 2017revitalization, mixed use

On Not Jumping to Conclusions: What Strong Towns Has Meant For Me

Rational consideration of what it means to live in a built environment, colliding with other humans has been Strong Town’s gift to me.

Member Post, Membership, Top Story, Success StoryBrian O'NeillJune 21, 2017development, mixed use, june 17 drive

New Options for Mixed-Use Housing

Housing development in the United States isn’t a one-size-fits-all model. Different types of neighborhoods and urban forms have different financing needs. Kudos to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac for taking these steps.

HousingRPAMay 3, 2017federal housing policy, mixed use, multi-family