A Recent Lawsuit Uses “Environmentalism” To Argue Against Walkable, Compact Development in Minneapolis. What the Heck Is Going On?

The environmental groups suing Minneapolis to block implementation of its groundbreaking 2040 Plan have a limited understanding of environmentalism, but a keen grasp of how to slow down policy reform.

Herriges, Top StoryDaniel HerrigesJune 22, 2022Climate Change, climate, environment, zoning, NIMBY, incremental growth, incremental development, incrementalism, infill, minnesota

We Don’t Like These Curves: What Is the J-Curve and What Is It Costing You?

These curves are costing Americans a lot, both financially and physically.

Top StorySeairra JonesJune 21, 2022Just Accounting for Health, homeowners, property tax, finance, taxes, home buyer

Oregon Nears Green Light for Big Parking Reform

Oregon’s statewide land use board declared its support Thursday for rules that, among other things, reduce or remove parking mandates in 53 jurisdictions in the state’s eight largest metro areas.

Top StoryMichael AndersenJune 21, 2022success stories, parking minimums, parking maximums, minimum parking requirements, Land Use, local government, state government, end parking mandates and subsidies, oregon

A Flooded River Versus a Flood of Volunteers

This week, our Neighborhood Storyteller reminisces about how her community came together during a time of impending disaster.

Neighborhood Storyteller, Top StoryKarla TheilenJune 21, 2022neighborhood storyteller, community, neighborliness, flooding, disasters, natural disasters, iowa, neighborhoods

Majora Carter: Reclaiming Your Community

In this interview with author Majora Carter, she explains an empowering truth: that you don’t have to move out of your neighborhood to live in a better one.

Podcast, Marohn, Top StoryStrong TownsJune 20, 2022podcast, books, neighborhood change, neighborhood revitalization, community, new york, neighborhoods

Less Parking Lots, More People Space

This interactive map allows you to view just how much space is being wasted in your city (and in the rest of the U.S.) on parking lots.

Top StoryKatya KisinJune 20, 2022parking minimums, car culture, car dependency, maps, mapping, urban design, transit, history, minnesota, end parking mandates and subsidies, public transportation

Streets Are for Building Community Wealth. Here’s Why That’s So Important.

Streets can be about many things, but unless they are building wealth for the community, they won’t survive. Period.

Marohn, Top StoryCharles MarohnJune 20, 2022finance, public finance, municipal finance, economic growth, economics, Economy, streets, local economy

Friday Faves - Your Weekly Strong Towns Roundup

Chandeliers, sentient AI, and 500-foot telescopes. These are just some of the stories from around the internet that Strong Towns staff were reading and talking about this week.

Top StoryStrong TownsJune 17, 2022friday faves

Freeway-Fighting Tide Has Turned

The halting of three in-city freeway expansions highlights a new momentum on reversing the damage of highways through urban areas.

Top StoryRobert SteutevilleJune 17, 2022urban freeways, freeway widening, freeway removal, highways, highway spending, DOT, colorado, transportation, infrastructure, success stories, end highway expansion, cnu, new york, oregon

Flying Blind: Why Public Leaders Need an Investment Grade Analysis

Portland and Oregon leaders shouldn’t commit to a $5-billion project without an investment grade analysis (IGA) of toll revenues.

Top StoryJoe CortrightJune 17, 2022infrastructure, infrastructure cost, infrastructure spending, DOT, washington, transparent local accounting, oregon

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.

Podcast, Top StoryStrong TownsJune 16, 2022The Bottom-Up Revolution, success stories, leadership, community, member story, local government, urban planning, podcast

Keep It Simple, Cities!

So, you want to attend a city council meeting? Good luck getting past all the jargon! Check out these “translations” of a real-life council agenda, and why it’s important to be more transparent with citizens.

Top Story, OwensTiffany Owens ReedJune 16, 2022local government, public engagement, city council, localism, Strong Citizenship, community engagement

A New Guide Could Help Your Community Fix Its Parking Policies

From our friends at the Parking Reform Network: a new guide to aid local advocates and policy makers implement Parking Benefit Districts in their cities and towns.

Herriges, Top StoryDaniel HerrigesJune 16, 2022parking pricing, Parking Reform Network, end parking mandates and subsidies

NIMBY: Hero, Villain, or None of the Above?

This week’s Upzoned episode reflects on how the nuances of housing policy don’t lend themselves to broad stereotypes.

Podcast, Top StoryStrong TownsJune 15, 2022podcast, housing, housing market, NIMBY, neighborhood change, upzoned, yimby

How to Use Facebook to Connect with Strong Towns Allies Near You

Many people have a love-hate relationship with Facebook, but we can’t deny that it’s an effective place to connect with fellow advocates.

Top StoryJohn PattisonJune 15, 2022community, community building, advocacy, local conversations

This “Homegrown Project” Offers a Place To Thrive for Small Business Owners

These pop-up shops in Berwyn, IL, are a great example of how communities can provide low-cost, low-risk spaces for local business owners to get their foot in the door.

Top StorySeairra JonesJune 14, 2022pop-up, small business, local business, incremental, incrementalism, business, localism, small bets, success stories, illinois

Home Business: In Rovinj, Croatia, a Peek at What's Possible

A visit to a home restaurant in Rovinj, Croatia, shows the kind of small businesses and good urbanism that we could have in the U.S. if we just relaxed our zoning codes.

Top StoryAddison Del MastroJune 14, 2022travel, small business, restaurants, zoning, urbanism, historic preservation, architecture, urban renewal, europe

A Return to the Old Country

This week, our Neighborhood Storyteller turns to friends for support during a canine emergency.

Neighborhood Storyteller, Top StoryKarla TheilenJune 14, 2022neighborhood storyteller, community, neighborliness, pets, neighborhoods

Nolan Gray: Exposing the Arbitrariness of Zoning Codes

This week on the Strong Towns Podcast, Chuck Marohn talks with Nolan Gray about his new book, in which he shows why zoning reform is necessary for building stronger towns and cities.