"What kind of city do we want to leave for our children?"

Minneapolis made waves when it ended single-family zoning. Yet the devil’s in the details—and some of the details that will make or break this policy are being decided right now.

Zoning, Housing, Herriges, Top StoryDaniel HerrigesSeptember 23, 2020Minneapolis, Minnesota, zoning, housing

"My city went bankrupt and all I got was discounted water park admission."

A proposed waterpark next to Mall of America is in trouble. And the city that wasn’t supposed to be “on the hook” for the project very much is.

MarohnCharles MarohnJuly 6, 2020Mall of America, Minnesota, featuredcc

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.

Top Story, HerrigesDaniel HerrigesApril 16, 2020Minnesota, suburban experiment, single-family, homeowners, #DoTheMath

When Is It Time to Pull the Plug on a Budget-Busting Road?

Cities with far more street infrastructure than they can maintain are in triage mode, and are going to have to decide what to keep paved and what to walk away from. Even if they won’t admit it yet.

What Should My City Do About Our Infrastructure Backlog?

If your community has a huge backlog of unfunded infrastructure maintenance — and it’s the rare one that doesn’t — there are some basic and obvious steps that need to be taken.

Minneapolis just ended single-family zoning.

Do the new guidelines go too far, not far enough, or are they just right (for now)?

Upzoned, Zoning, Podcast, Top StoryStrong TownsNovember 14, 2019Minneapolis, Minnesota, single-family, multi-family, zoning, Podcast, podcast, impact

"We Watch Out for Each Other."

As the demographics of a small Minnesota town change, people there are discovering the power of social capital and a rich associational life. Here’s how some residents of St. James came to feel at home for the very first time.

A Small City with Big Delusions

Pine Island, MN (population 3,000) has huge dreams, yet they can’t take care of their basic systems. Who pays the price?

My Journey from Free Market Ideologue to Strong Towns Advocate, Part 2: Pequot Lakes Bypass

Early in my career, I helped plan a highway bypass for a small town that I was sure would generate a positive return on investment in the form of economic growth. The only problem? The actual numbers we calculated told a different story.

My Journey from Free Market Ideologue to Strong Towns Advocate

I’ve had to reconcile my foundational belief in markets with my experiences working with cities. This has been a painful process.

The "Lake Effect" Shows the Importance of Public Places

When property near water holds a higher value than landlocked properties, we call it the “lake effect.” How can this be used to build a stronger, healthier community?

Sulaski, Neighborhood Design, #DotheMath, Urban3, Top StoryRobert SulaskiJune 11, 2019Minnesota, Minneapolis, land tax, Urban3, parks

The Great Place Project

A unique program in Cook County, MN gives local organizations and businesses grants of up to just $1,000 to take on small projects that improve their town. And it's making a big impact.

#StrongCitizens, Top Story, Public ArtRachel QuednauMay 18, 2017Minnesota

An Unlikely Success Story: The Failure of the North Minneapolis Greenway

This is the beauty of tactical urbanism: even in its failures, you find success.

Hood, Tactical Urbanism, Top Story, Transportation, Urban DesignNathaniel M. HoodNovember 29, 2016Minneapolis, Minnesota, bike lanes

How to Make City Streets More Friendly

A bottom-up St. Paul project changes how people feel about their city.

Retrofitting Edina - A Video Tour

This tour of a suburban retrofit site in Edina began with skepticism, but as we progressed. I started to see why the place was worthy of our time.

Video, Top StoryCharles MarohnOctober 5, 2016Minnesota, suburban retrofit, sprawl retrofit

Edina's Downtown - A Video Tour

Chuck Marohn gives a video tour of Edina, MN's premier shopping district, which has a lot going for it, but still areas for improvement.

Video, Top StoryCharles MarohnOctober 4, 2016Minnesota, events

Some reflections (and a video) on Edina

Edina, MN, is a very impressive suburb that is asking a lot of the right questions.

Top Story, VideoCharles MarohnOctober 3, 2016Minnesota, events, Growth Ponzi Scheme, local government

Strong Towns Member and Contributor, Matthias Leyrer, on why he's Running for City Council

"There are simple things we could do to make this place great, and I think that’s what really fires me up."

Top Story, #StrongCitizens, #DotheMath, Quednau, Leyrer, Success StoryRachel QuednauSeptember 19, 2016local government, Minnesota

Is this new high school really an upgrade?

A new high school is heralded as a model of innovation, but it's part of a depressing trend in modern school planning: isolated facilities on the unwalkable fringe.