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

Ian Lockwood: Thoughts From an Engineer

How should engineers be thinking about building wealth in communities? That’s just one of the questions Chuck Marohn asks of Ian Lockwood, a recognized national leader in sustainable transportation policy and urban design.

One Reason American Architecture Is Considered Boring: Stairs

Why does multifamily housing has the same, copied look in most places?

Podcast, Upzoned, Top StoryStrong TownsApril 12, 2023Podcast, podcast, Upzoned, architecture, multi-family, housing, Housing, aesthetics, zoning

Cowboy Hotels for Housing Shortages

What lessons can we glean from a century-old solution to housing crises?

What’s Going On With the Recent Bank Failures?

In this week’s episode of the Strong Towns Podcast, Chuck Marohn talks about the financial system, and provides insights on what’s currently happening in the banking industry.

Podcast, Marohn, ST Podcast, Top StoryStrong TownsApril 3, 2023Podcast, podcast, banks, finance, Inflation, Economy

Homelessness in Rural America

Although you may not see as many people without homes in the streets of rural America, that doesn’t mean the housing crisis hasn’t struck communities outside of big cities.

High-Income Earners Are Renting Instead of Buying Homes

High-earning Americans are saying they might choose to rent indefinitely. Why?

Growth Through Destruction

Can built environments grow even stronger after experiencing some form of destruction?

Podcast, Marohn, ST Podcast, Top StoryStrong TownsMarch 20, 2023Podcast, podcast, complexity, complex systems, Complexity

When a Building Is Demolished, What Should Happen to the Materials?

When buildings throughout the U.S. get demolished, the once useful construction materials often end up in landfills. But there’s a growing movement to try and reuse those materials in other projects.

Podcast, Upzoned, Top StoryStrong TownsMarch 15, 2023Podcast, podcast, Upzoned, construction

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.

The 15 Minute City - A Good Life or an Infringement on Freedoms?

Is the hype over 15-minute cities warranted or not?

Podcast, Upzoned, Top Story, Planning ProfessionStrong TownsMarch 8, 2023Podcast, podcast, Upzoned, urban design, 15-Minute Cities

Whose Responsibility Is It To Ensure That Buildings Interact With the Public Realm in a Delightful Way?

It’s important to build safe and productive streets, but how do we ensure those streets are a place people want to be and live in?

The Property Tax System is Broken—Regrid Works on Tools to Help Fix It

Alex Alsup comes back to the Strong Towns Podcast to talk about property taxes and assessments in Detroit—and a useful tool that homeowners, assessors, and nonprofits can use in balancing this imbalanced system.

We’re Getting Worse at Construction Despite Technology Advances

If the U.S. is advancing in its ability to build things, why does it seem like our places are falling apart?

Jeff Speck on the 10th-Anniversary Edition of Walkable City

Jeff Speck joins Chuck Marohn on the Strong Towns Podcast to talk about the latest edition of his book, Walkable City, which features 100 new pages of information for anyone wanting to make their city stronger.

Portland’s Cully Neighborhood To Use “The One Ring” for Good

In the past, urban renewal projects have displaced people and destroyed neighborhoods, yet Portland’s Cully neighborhood aims to launch an urban renewal plan…but this time, in a good way?

Podcast, Upzoned, Top StoryStrong TownsFebruary 1, 2023Podcast, podcast, Upzoned, Oregon, Urban Renewal, neighborhood revitalization, Neighborhoods

Lawsuit Update: Making a Stand for Engineers in the Minnesota State Court of Appeals

In this Strong Towns Podcast, listen to the latest update on our lawsuit agains the Minnesota board of engineering licensure and the oral arguments made in front of the Minnesota Court of Appeals.

The Governor of Missouri Wants to Spend $859 Million on Highway Expansion

A proposed highway expansion in Missouri will not only bulldoze through key areas in and around downtown St. Louis, but it’s also going to cost $859 million. Let’s go over some better ways that money could be spent.

The U.S. Is Running Out of Skilled Labor. Is It Gen Z’s Fault?

The U.S. needs more carpenters, plumbers, and other people in skilled trades and technical industries—and a lot of people are quick to point fingers at Gen Z for not picking up the slack.