Can a Stadium Save Philadelphia’s “Dead Zone”?

This arena promises to revitalize a portion of Philadelphia’s downtown that has been in economic decline. Here’s why locals are skeptical of these promises.

Top StoryAsia MieleszkoApril 11, 2023downtown, stadium, economic development, Economic Development, revitalization, Pennsylvania

The "Other Story" of Buffalo

This year, Buffalo, NY, made headlines around the U.S. in the wake of a tragic shooting. But there’s another story to tell about Buffalo as a city, and it’s about decline and revitalization.

Upzoned, Podcast, Top StoryStrong TownsAugust 10, 2022Podcast, podcast, Upzoned, Buffalo NY, New York, decline, revitalization

Stanwood Mulls Strong Towns-Style Main Street Makeover

This small town is considering overhauling its main street to embrace walkability and good old-fashioned main street urbanism.

Success Story, Urban Design, Top StoryDoug TrummJune 13, 2022Washington, Small Towns, downtown, main street, Traditional Main Street, revitalization, walkability, urbanism, success, success stories, rural

Seeing the Glass as Half Full: Exploring the Reuse Opportunity for Houses of Worship on Main Street

Up to one-third of all houses of worship in the United States will have closed over the next few years. What will we do with the spaces they leave behind?

Faith, Top StoryRick ReinhardMay 20, 2022churches, Religion, religion, main street, downtown, revitalization, public institutions, Faith Featured, faith communities

Recovery Playbook: Back to Downtown & Main Street

This guide will take you through short-term and long-term strategies for downtown and Main Street recovery in the wake (and midst) of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Coronavirus, Economic Development, Strategies, Top StoryJonathan BerkMarch 11, 2022coronavirus, placemaking, creative placemaking, downtown, main street, Traditional Main Street, urbanism, revitalization, how to, economic development, Economic Development

The Bottom-Up Revolution Is...Turning a Historic Synagogue into a Community Cultural Center

Rabbi Donna Berman leads a community center serving neighbors in Hartford, CT.

Podcast, The Bottom-Up Revolution, Success Story, Faith, Neighborhoods, Top StoryStrong TownsFebruary 10, 2022taking action, The Bottom-Up Revolution, education, children, homelessness, revitalization

Building Something from Nothing in Utica

This grassroots organization has taken it into their own hands to activate and revitalize their community in Utica, NY.

Community, Public Space, Top StoryArian HorbovetzJanuary 17, 2022New York, bottom-up, community, community development, pop-up, placemaking, revitalization, public space

4 Reality TV Lessons for Your Town

Your small town had a 1 in 5,000 chance to receive a reality TV makeover. What can the other 4,999 learn?

Incrementalism, Pattison, Rural, Top StoryJohn PattisonNovember 12, 2021asset-based community development, rural, small towns, television, Home Town Takeover, HGTV, revitalization, Oswego Renaissance Association

Is It Worth Planting Flowers Here?

Is it worth investing in something that (seemingly) has no practical function? If we want to strengthen our neighborhoods, sometimes the answer is “yes.”

Quednau, Neighborhoods, Top StoryRachel QuednauAugust 17, 2021revitalization, neighborhood revitalization, gardening

The Bottom-Up Revolution is... Empowering Young People to Rebuild Homes

In Birmingham, AL, a unique high school program trains teens in home renovation and building skills, while revitalizing their neighborhood in the process. Jeanyll Morris shares her experience helping lead the program.

Podcast, Taking Action, The Bottom-Up Revolution, Success Story, Neighborhoods, Housing, Schools, Top StoryStrong TownsMay 20, 2021The Bottom-Up Revolution, neighborhood, alabama, education, children, neighborhood revitalization, revitalization, taking action

The Bottom-Up Revolution is... Shifting Perceptions About a Rust Belt City

Mayor Chris Frye is bringing optimism and economic resilience to New Castle, PA.

Podcast, Taking Action, The Bottom-Up Revolution, Success Story, Top StoryStrong TownsApril 29, 2021The Bottom-Up Revolution, Pennsylvania, local government, revitalization, taking action

The Bottom-Up Revolution is... Reactivating a Historic Space for the Whole Community

Alex Rodriguez and Danny Lapin are incrementally revitalizing a historic space for entrepreneurs, artists and community members in rural Lexington, NY.

Podcast, Taking Action, The Bottom-Up Revolution, Success Story, Member Post, Community, Top StoryStrong TownsMarch 11, 2021The Bottom-Up Revolution, planning profession, revitalization, historic preservation, New York State, member story, taking action

This is What We Can Do Together

Strong Towns is empowering thousands of champions for change to bring their places back to greater prosperity, little by little, through bottom-up action. Here’s what that looks like.

Taking Action, Tactical Urbanism, Success Story, Public Space, Neighborhoods First, HerrigesDaniel HerrigesMay 22, 2020Memphis, Better Block Project, tactical urbanism, revitalization, bike lanes, protected bike lane, incremental development, public investment, impact

6 Ingredients in a Troubled City's Impressive Recovery

Scott Ford, former Director of Community Investment for South Bend, Indiana, knows a thing or two about how to turn around a declining place’s fortunes. He shares some key insights with us.

Podcast, Strategies, Top StoryDaniel HerrigesJune 10, 2019revitalization, Rust Belt, South Bend, Indiana

Envisioning a Barrier-Free City

There is incredible potential for a rebirth and renaissance in older urban neighborhoods. One great way to accelerate that renaissance: adding value through barrier-free design for people with disabilities. A new competition in Cleveland aims to showcase innovative approaches.

Neighborhood Design, Top StorySteve WrightMay 9, 2019revitalization, Cleveland, Disability

Rewarding Neglect and Punishing Investment in Struggling Neighborhoods

In 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.

Herriges, Land Value Tax Series, Small Scale Developers, Top StoryDaniel HerrigesMarch 7, 2019blight, revitalization, Rust Belt

Love After Loss: An Urban Therapy Session

Rust Belt cities have endured difficult losses, and no matter how hard they’ve tried, they have never quite been able to shake the financial and psychological wounds. So today, we’re taking the American city to therapy.

Horbovetz, Top StoryArian HorbovetzFebruary 12, 2019decline, rust belt cities, suburbanization, revitalization

Best of 2018: The Psychology of Decline

For a struggling city, negative perceptions from with the community can send it into a spiral of decline. It takes a major shift in perspective to get the city back on track.

Akron, Quednau, Top Story, Best of BlogRachel QuednauDecember 13, 2018revitalization, page highlight, Best of 2018

Opportunity Zones, But for Whom?

In this week’s Upzoned podcast, Kea and Chuck discuss the new federal Opportunity Zones program. Is a big bucket of money what disinvested neighborhoods need? Or is using a federal program to develop a neighborhood like steering an ocean liner with a canoe paddle?

Upzoned, PodcastStrong TownsOctober 12, 2018revitalization, federal funding

Transforming Akron's Public Schools

Can stronger schools help a city grappling with an identity crisis get residents to put down roots? In Akron, Ohio, another transformation, driven not by celebrity philanthropy but by local partnerships, is sweeping through the school system.

Akron, Schools, Top Story, Danckaert-SkoviraAlissa Danckaert-SkoviraOctober 9, 2018education, revitalization

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