Why do cities make it so hard to find out about public meetings?

It's not rocket science, guys.

#StrongCitizens, QuednauRachel QuednauFebruary 12, 2018Public Participation, community engagement

The Surprising Relationship Between Retail Tax and Property Tax

No, that mall out on the edge of town is not producing enough sales tax value to outweigh its terrible return on investment in terms of property tax value.

Quednau, #DotheMathRachel QuednauFebruary 5, 2018value per acre, sales tax

Why Enforcement is Not Enough

There is no amount of signage or cops patrolling that will eliminate the problem of dangerous design. We have to address the root cause.

#SlowtheCars, Quednau, Top StoryRachel QuednauJanuary 31, 2018enforcement, car crash, pedestrian safety, stc elected, stc ape

The Sidewalk Mistake our Cities Need to Stop Making

Simple steps could make life much easier for people on foot. Why aren't our cities taking them?

Quednau, Urban Design, Top StoryRachel QuednauJanuary 29, 2018sidewalks, #PedestrianUnfriendly, pedestrian safety, stc elected

Why Walkable Streets are More Economically Productive

3 dollars and cents arguments that definitively prove the need for people-oriented, walk-friendly places.

Quednau, Walkability, #SlowtheCarsRachel QuednauJanuary 18, 2018Economy, stc elected, value per acre, page highlight

10 Questions to Ask Someone Running for Local Office

Want to figure out whether a local candidate for public office will uphold Strong Towns principles and values on the job? Ask them these 10 questions.

Quednau, #StrongCitizens, Top StoryRachel QuednauJanuary 9, 2018local government, resource

A Town Square out of Thin Air

Can a suburban “downtown” built from the ground up for over $150 million succeed?

Top Story, Quednau, Best of BlogRachel QuednauDecember 7, 2017

3 Creative Ways to Tackle Parking Needs

Your city needs far less parking than you think. But for the neighborhoods and destinations that really do need some parking, how can we build it in a thoughtful, non-destructive manner?

Parking, Quednau, Top StoryRachel QuednauNovember 21, 2017

Big box stores are costing our cities far more than we ever imagined.

Big box developments are not paying their fair share.

4 Things You Notice When You Walk Instead of Drive

When I walk in my neighborhood, I notice so much more than if I were traveling at high speed in an enclosed vehicle.

Walkability, Top Story, #StrongCitizens, #SlowtheCars, QuednauRachel QuednauOctober 25, 2017

Putting Portland's Urban Highway in its Place

In Portland, Maine, an urban highway has long divided the downtown from nearby neighborhoods in a dangerous manner. Local activists hope to change that.

#SlowtheCars, #StrongCitizens, Quednau, Top StoryRachel QuednauOctober 13, 2017pedestrian safety, page highlight, stc elected

A Culture of Fear

Unwarranted fear seems to drive much of American culture and decisionmaking.

Quednau, Top StoryRachel QuednauOctober 11, 2017

3 Ways Shrinking Churches can Adapt

Religious congregations across the country are facing declining attendance. How can they become more resilient in a changing religious and economic landscape?

Top Story, QuednauRachel QuednauOctober 4, 2017faith communities, churches, resilient

The “Bikes vs. Cars” conversation gets us nowhere.

When arguing in favor of bike infrastructure, it's time for a new tactic.

Bikeability, QuednauRachel QuednauOctober 3, 2017bike lanes

A Thoughtful Approach to Parking after Minimums are Removed

There's a new parking garage in Fargo, ND and I'm excited about it. Yes, you read that right.

Parking, Quednau, Top StoryRachel QuednauSeptember 29, 2017

What is blight?

What makes one building worth saving and another worth destroying?

Housing, QuednauRachel QuednauSeptember 27, 2017poverty

The Hitchhiker's Guide to Strong Towns

"It's a bypass. You've got to build bypasses."

Quednau, Top Story, #NoNewRoadsRachel QuednauSeptember 22, 2017books

4 Tips for Better Community Engagement

How do you move your city forward in a way that benefits everyone?

Walkability, Top Story, Quednau, #StrongCitizensRachel QuednauSeptember 19, 2017community engagement

A Unique Public-Private Partnership for a 21st Century Library

After years of being a largely windowless, uninviting one-story building on a dreary corner, this library was transformed into an exciting, lively mixed-use space that is now a focal point for the neighborhood.

Quednau, Top Story, Urban DesignRachel QuednauSeptember 13, 2017shared space, public space, architecture

4 Ways to get Started Building Strong Towns

So you've been reading Strong Towns for a while now. Maybe you even took the next step and became a member... But now what?

Quednau, Top Story, #StrongCitizensRachel QuednauSeptember 12, 2017resource