The Costs of Fragility

When your community is financially fragile, you lose options. In the case of Brainerd, Minnesota, that may mean letting go of a landmark.

MarohnCharles MarohnJuly 23, 2018Brainerd MN, historic preservation, debt, page highlight

The Apartment Complex

Affordable housing can take many shapes and show up in surprising places. These places aren’t subsidized or government-run, but they house millions of Americans.

Sanphillippo, Housing, Suburban Poverty, Top StoryJohnny SanphillippoJuly 20, 2018suburbs, affordable housing

Suburban Poverty Meets Sprawl Retrofit

Where should we invest in retrofit, and where does it make more sense to let suburban development fail? The answer could have a profound impact on people across America.

Suburban Poverty, PodcastStrong TownsJuly 19, 2018sprawl retrofit, suburban retrofit

Ask R. Moses: Should we let a developer take over our parking meters?

“I'm honestly not sure if I should support this trend or fight it.”

Ask R Moses, Parking, Top StoryR. MosesJuly 18, 2018Roundabouts

Harvesting Hope In Akron

To visit the Hapi Fresh Farmer’s Market in Akron, Ohio, is to see the beginning of a journey. Seeds have been planted to draw in more residents, more businesses, and to nurture a return to prosperity for the neighborhood.

Pride of Ownership

Let’s stop assuming the motives of individuals, especially when there are other, perfectly rational, universal explanations for why someone would do something we don’t agree with.

Marohn, Top StoryCharles MarohnJuly 16, 2018suburban experiment, white flight

Top 5 Stories from the Week (July 9-13, 2018)

This week, we discussed tactics for making your town stronger — and how to know when to leave, if your town just isn’t the right place for you.

Strong TownsJuly 14, 2018post roundup

What is the future of Iowa's small towns?

To my fellow small town Iowans: stop voting for policies that help you feel good, and start voting for policies that help you live well.

Member Post, Top StoryBruce NesmithJuly 13, 2018rural

The Good, Bad and Ugly of Downtown Universities

What’s the impact of a university campus on your city’s downtown? Akron, Ohio offers a valuable illustration.

Akron, Schools, Schweitzer, Top Story, Urban DesignMark SchweitzerJuly 13, 2018college

Rather than demonizing driving—let’s just stop subsidizing it

A “war on cars” won’t win many hearts and minds. Let’s ask for responsibility instead.

Member PostJoe CortrightJuly 13, 2018cars

What does it mean to build a vibrant community?

A community leader, visionary, and entrepreneur has made it his mission to strengthen his town and turn it into an attractive place where people want to be.

PodcastStrong TownsJuly 12, 2018community building

Breaking Down Atlanta's Suburban Experiment

What would the opposite of the Strong Towns approach look like?

#DotheMath, Nielsen, Top StoryConnor NielsenJuly 12, 2018suburban experiment, Atlanta, Value Per Acre

The Power of Gridded Streets

One man’s quest to find the equation proving the value of gridded streets leads him down some interesting roads.

Urban Design, Roads and Streets, #DotheMath, Top StoryVince GrahamJuly 12, 2018Street Design

Can Recreation Make Your Town Stronger?

An unlikely town has become a hub for cycling and mountain biking — and it’s paying serious dividends for the community.

Bikeability, Byron, Top StoryAubrey ByronJuly 11, 2018local economy, bike trails

Stop Playing Public Hearing Bingo

Here are a few ideas to make you a more effective—and interesting—public hearing participant.

Kobos, #StrongCitizensSarah KobosJuly 11, 2018Public Participation, community engagement, resource, how to

Scanning the radio or hitting the presets?

Unless we change the underlying rules that govern the design of our cities, we'll be fiddling with radio dials instead of zeroing in on exactly what we need.

#StrongCitizens, Gardner, Top StorySpencer GardnerJuly 11, 2018local government, resource