Here’s one important question to ask about how your city regulates housing.

Herriges, Top StoryDaniel HerrigesFebruary 28, 2024Incremental Housing, missing middle, single-family, multi-family, housing policy

Early Zoning and the War on Multifamily Housing

Most of your city’s zoning likely prohibits multifamily housing—even of a modest form, like triple-deckers. If so, you have the arrogance of early zoning reformers to thank for it.

Herriges, Top StoryDaniel HerrigesOctober 18, 2023zoning, Incremental Housing, multi-family, single-family, housing policy, history

Small Is Beautiful: This Developer Targets a Neglected Housing Market

88% of all new U.S. homes have three bedrooms or more, even though 64% of buyers aren’t demanding the extra space. Flintlock LAB is working to address this mismatch and make homes more attainable for entry-level buyers.

Top Story, TrendingBen AbramsonJuly 10, 2023Incremental Housing, housing affordability, infill, single-family, zoning

Illustrating Investment Potential in Your Neighborhood

Too many neighborhoods have a demand and need for additional housing, but builders believe there's not enough existing lots to build on. Here's how to demonstrate otherwise.

Edward Erfurt, Top StoryEdward ErfurtMarch 31, 2023Incremental Housing, housing, housing crisis, development, single-family

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.

Has Statewide Upzoning Failed To Unlock Housing Production in California?

In 2021, California passed Senate Bill 9, ending exclusive single-family zoning. The first numbers have come in on this new law’s impact, and...they're not large numbers. But here's why that's not surprising (nor a cause for alarm).

2 College Towns Leading the Way on Land-Use Reform

Although they stand in very different parts of the country, these college towns are spearheading the push to eliminate harmful, longstanding land-use policies.

Why Are Our Parents in Wholly Random Places?

Even if you yourself are able to live in a walkable area, you can’t choose where your loved ones live. And as this author describes, that adds to the difficulties of caring for an ailing parent.

Zoning Desire Paths

Just as kids ignore sidewalks in favor of walking a more efficient path through the grass, homeowners in California are voting with their toolbelts to create zoning desire paths.

What Can We Learn From What New Zealand Just Did?

New Zealand just passed the first national policy to both end parking requirements and allow the next increment of (residential) development everywhere. I.e., two major items on the Strong Towns wish list.

Multigenerational Living Isn't Immigrant Culture, It's Human Culture

Living with extended family is something Americans often associate with immigrant households. But why?

Top StoryShina ShayestehOctober 5, 2021family, multi-family, single-family, Single, immigrants, immigration, housing, Social Isolation, zoning

The Secret Sauce (Maybe) of California's Zoning Reform

SB 9 just passed in California, effectively ending single-family zoning there. The open question is, "What now?" Will anything actually change?

HerrigesDaniel HerrigesSeptember 29, 2021zoning, single-family, housing, housing affordability, housing crisis, duplex, fourplex, california

You Need to Know About Walla Walla, Washington

This small city in Washington has been quietly making some very big zoning changes…

Podcast, Top StoryStrong TownsAugust 18, 2021zoning, single-family, upzoned, washington, podcast

Did Sacramento Just Approve the Best Local Housing Reform Yet?

There are only a couple reforms Strong Towns recommends unequivocally for every town and city. Sacramento just passed both of them…unanimously…in one evening.

What if They Passed Zoning Reform and Nobody Came?

Last November, Minneapolis made duplexes and triplexes legal on any residential lot—an achievement that became a model for other towns and cities. Let’s check in.

Herriges, Top StoryDaniel HerrigesSeptember 3, 2020zoning, single-family, minnesota

Can the Right and Left Come Together on Zoning Reform?

Zoning reform is an opportunity for common ground for those on the political Right and Left. What will it take to get there?

Podcast, Top StoryStrong TownsSeptember 2, 2020single-family, zoning, politics, upzoned, podcast

Single Family Detached: Friend or Foe?

We’ve been critical of single-family zoning — but does that mean that single-family homes have no place in a city’s financial ecosystem?

Top StoryFelix LandryJuly 22, 2020single-family, zoning, value per acre

What Are Your “Three Wishes” for Your City?

Okay, here’s the game: Name the three things you would change in your city that would have the biggest impact.

Top StoryDJ SullivanJuly 13, 2020zoning, single-family, Form-Based Code, safe and productive streets, tennessee

When Apartment Dwellers Subsidize Suburban Homeowners

For most cities, the property taxes from single-family homes simply can’t pay the bills. One Minnesota mayor was remarkably blunt about that fact in a recent speech.