How Highways Finally Crushed Black Tulsa

Tulsa’s Greenwood neighborhood survived the 1921 race massacre, only to be ultimately destroyed by a more unrelenting foe: interstate highways.

Race, City Observatory, Top StoryJoe CortrightJuly 9, 2021tulsa, race, history, highways, Joe Cortright, Reparations

The Bottom-Up Revolution is... Making Cities More Bike- and Walk-Friendly

Michael Kelley is helping to make Kansas City a place where getting around is easy and affordable for everyone.

Podcast, Taking Action, The Bottom-Up Revolution, Success Story, Bikeability, Walkability, Top StoryStrong TownsJuly 8, 2021The Bottom-Up Revolution, Kansas City, taking action

Design Speed is a Value Statement

Choosing a design speed is an application of core values. We shouldn't allow the engineering profession to make this decision for us.

#SlowtheCars, Marohn, Engineering Profession, Podcast, Engineering Reform, Top StoryCharles MarohnJuly 8, 2021engineering profession, engineering ethics, engineers, #SlowTheCars, Podcast

When The Treatment Perpetuates the Disease

In 2016, Portland enacted an Inclusionary Housing policy affecting buildings of 20+ units. The result? The city now has a bunch of new 19-unit buildings. Let’s talk about intervening in a system as complex and adaptive as the housing market.

Herriges, Housing, Strategies, Zoning, Top StoryDaniel HerrigesJuly 7, 2021Top-down Tools series, housing, housing crisis, housing policy, zoning, top-down

Mayors Are Turning Talk into Action On Reparations

When it comes to reparations, mayors are turning their good intentions into action, using tools they already have.

Race, Success Story, Upzoned, Podcast, Top StoryStrong TownsJuly 7, 2021Reparations, redlining, Kansas City, success stories, success, Podcast, Upzoned

A Tale of Two Walks: Part 2

Our walk together continues on Fairfax Boulevard, where we encounter a much different (i.e., less friendly) pedestrian experience.

Roads and Streets, Urban Design, Walkability, Top StoryAddison Del MastroJuly 7, 2021walkability, Addison Del Mastro, pedestrians, car culture, Virginia

A Tale of Two Walks: Part 1

Let’s take a walk together down two different streets, and observe what car-oriented places are like from the viewpoint of a pedestrian.

Roads and Streets, Urban Design, Walkability, Top StoryAddison Del MastroJuly 6, 2021walkability, fine-grained, Addison Del Mastro, pedestrians, car culture, Virginia

Here's How Cities Undermine Their Own Competitiveness

Many of the economic strategies pursued by towns and cities compromise not only their competitiveness, but even their long-term solvency.

Podcast, Marohn, Politics, Top Story, ST PodcastStrong TownsJuly 6, 2021Podcast, Conservatism, politics

A Preview of Bi-Partisan Compromise on Infrastructure (Sorry, It's Not Good)

We should not be cheering on simulacrums of reform when the majority of spending is going to programs that are making us weaker as a country, as cities, and as neighborhoods.

#InfrastructureCrisis, #NoNewRoads, Infrastructure, Local Government, Marohn, Politics, Transportation, Top StoryCharles MarohnJuly 6, 2021MoveMN, Infrastructure, transportation, walkability, bikeability, #NoNewRoads, infrastructure cult, local government, Minnesota

Friday Faves - Your Weekly Strong Towns Roundup

Ancient irrigation systems, #NoNewRoads in Wales, and the history of #1 singles. These are just some of the stories from around the web that Strong Towns staffers were reading and talking about this week.

Friday Faves, Top StoryStrong TownsJuly 2, 2021Friday Faves