Mid-size regions like Kansas City don’t have the affordability struggles of, say, a fast-growing Denver or Seattle: they have their own unique challenges instead. Here’s how the “natural” affordability of homes in these places can be turned into an opportunity for an urban renaissance.
Read MoreIt’s time for mandatory parking minimums to go. That doesn’t mean, though, that the need for parking is going to magically disappear. We would also be wise to plan for smart, adaptable parking solutions, so our cities can incrementally urbanize.
Read MoreBringing a neighborhood back from the brink of ruin, one building at a time, is hard, thankless work—like raising bees when you could just go buy a jar of honey. But when it works, each successful project helps “pollinate” the surrounding area with the seeds of revival, in a virtuous cycle.
Read MoreIn cities all over America, we deter people from revitalizing neighborhoods by punishing them with higher taxes for improving their property. A change in how we tax property could fix these incentives.
Read MoreWhy all these new storefronts are sitting vacant.
Read MoreWhat does it take to be a small-scale developer in a struggling part of town? To put your money where your mouth is and participate in incremental neighborhood revitalization? One of our staffers knows firsthand.
Read MoreTwo simple questions can help us understand why different groups don’t seem to speak the same language about growth and development in cities, and why seemingly-strange political alliances form around these issues.
Read MoreIs a desire for local character your jam? If so, fight for missing-middle commercial space in your neighborhood. Fight for the corner bar and the corner store. We need an approach that is much more flexible, more true to what humans want from cities, and messier.
Read MoreThe lines between work and home zones are blurring: more employers want to be in walkable, amenitized areas, and conversely, people are choosing to live closer to where they work. This Cincinnati placemaking experiment exemplifies the kind of small bets this trend is making possible.
Read MoreLet’s walk through what it actually takes to build a small rental apartment on your property in Austin, Texas. It’s a lesson in how the city’s existing code stymies gentle, incremental, small-scale development.
Read MoreWhat does it take to bring life back to a faded downtown? Contrary to conventional wisdom, big employers may underperform as revitalization engines, and small-bet approaches—improvisational, innovative, and low-risk—can deliver outsize rewards.
Read MoreWith a modest investment and a lot of heart, communities are transforming homes and moving entire neighborhoods towards a better future.
Read MoreWhen the housing market is depressed and you can’t get a return on your investment, there is little incentive to put any money into improvements. It’s a vicious cycle that several Akron nonprofits are trying to break.
Read MoreIncremental developer Monte Anderson encourages people to pick a place they love and stay there, then work to make it better piece by piece.
Read MoreWhy all these new storefronts are sitting vacant.
Read MoreBy taking these two simples steps, any town can create a thriving small business community.
Read MoreA neglected church building in Akron, Ohio has been transformed into a hub for nonprofits, innovation and community.
Read MoreWatch this video to learn how to become a small developer, why small development is important and how community leaders can advocate for better development in their communities.
Read MoreBecause it shouldn’t be this hard.
Read MoreBy choosing to rehab and rent the homes in the worst condition, these developers are helping low income neighborhoods find a new future.
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