Redlining Maps Were Burned—But the Fundamentals Are Still Taught

Why is this official course from the International Association of Assessing Officers still teaching outdated redlining practices to categorize neighborhoods?

Transparent Accounting, Top StorySeairra SheppardApril 25, 2023redlining, Transparent Local Accounting, race, Race, Neighborhoods, Assessments, Just Accounting for Health

What a Real Estate Listing Can Tell You About a Strong Town

A real estate listing can be used as a roadmap to the attributes that Strong Towns advocates for: human-scale development, safe places to walk and bike, and responsive local government.

Incremental Housing, Safe & Productive Streets, Top StoryBen AbramsonApril 4, 2023real estate, Incremental Housing, Safe and Productive Streets, Homeownership, homeownership, neighborhood, Neighborhoods, walkability, development pattern

On the Conservative Reaction to 15-Minute Cities

On today’s episode of the Strong Towns Podcast, Chuck Marohn dives into controversies surrounding the concept of the 15-minute city.

Podcast, Marohn, ST Podcast, Walkability, Top StoryStrong TownsMarch 13, 2023Podcast, podcast, walkability, 15-Minute Cities, politics, mixed use, Neighborhoods

Portland’s Cully Neighborhood To Use “The One Ring” for Good

In the past, urban renewal projects have displaced people and destroyed neighborhoods, yet Portland’s Cully neighborhood aims to launch an urban renewal plan…but this time, in a good way?

Podcast, Upzoned, Top StoryStrong TownsFebruary 1, 2023Podcast, podcast, Upzoned, Oregon, Urban Renewal, neighborhood revitalization, Neighborhoods

Parking, Pizza, and Apartments at the Mall

The way we build our neighborhoods in North America is nothing like making a pizza. But maybe it should be.

Incremental Housing, Top Story 2Michel Durand-WoodJanuary 31, 2023canada, Canada, Development, development pattern, development, traditional development pattern, mixed use, neighborhood, Neighborhoods, incrementalism, resilience, Incremental Housing

Will There Still Be Chinatowns in Utopia?

“Community character" is often invoked to support exclusion and discrimination, but there are also communities whose unique "character" matters—a lot. How (if at all) should local government support such places?

Neighborhoods, Herriges, Top StoryDaniel HerrigesJanuary 18, 2023neighborhood, Neighborhoods, local government, local regulation, race, Race, housing policy

What Customer Service Should Mean for a City

Many local governments have taken on a “the customer is always right” mindset, but that’s simply not the best approach, especially for decisions that should be made at the block level.

Podcast, Marohn, ST Podcast, Local Government, Top StoryStrong TownsOctober 10, 2022Podcast, podcast, local government, city government, localism, neighborliness, Neighborhoods, neighborhood

Where Are All Our Front Yard Businesses?

Front yard businesses were once a natural stage in the evolution of a community. So where have they all gone, and how do we bring them back?

Pattison, Zoning, Neighborhoods, Top StoryJohn PattisonAugust 16, 2022business, small business, local business, Entrepreneurship, entrepreneurship, neighborhood, Neighborhoods, zoning

Walking America: Bridgeport to New Haven

From Housatonic Community College to Yale: The story of a 20-mile walk along I-95.

Walkability, Top StoryChris ArnadeJune 24, 2022walkability, Connecticut, community, Community, neighborhood, Neighborhoods, poor neighborhoods, poverty, Poverty, suburban poverty, schools

Neighborhoods Were Never Meant to Be Unchanging

The idea of a permanent community “character” was an invention of the suburban era, and it's showing its cracks now—because it was never an attainable or desirable goal.

Herriges, Neighborhoods, Neighborhood Design, Top StoryDaniel HerrigesJune 23, 2022neighborhood change, zoning, suburban development pattern, suburban experiment, history, History, New York, neighborhood, Neighborhoods, Neighborhood Design

Majora Carter: Reclaiming Your Community

In this interview with author Majora Carter, she explains an empowering truth: that you don’t have to move out of your neighborhood to live in a better one.

Podcast, Marohn, ST Podcast, Top Story, NeighborhoodsStrong TownsJune 20, 2022Podcast, podcast, books, neighborhood, Neighborhoods, neighborhood change, neighborhood revitalization, New York, community, Community

Hey, Starbucks: Your Drive-Thru Doesn't Belong in My Community

Or in anyone else’s, for that matter! A strong neighborhood has businesses that keep money in the local economy, instead of siphoning money out.

Neighborhoods, Quednau, Top StoryRachel QuednauMay 9, 2022coffee shops, local business, local economy, business, small business, neighborhood, Neighborhoods, cars, car culture, localism, Wisconsin, Third Places

Herriges Rezoned: The Neighbor's Dilemma

NIMBYs are responding to a set of very rational incentives. That presents a challenge for those of us who hope to alter the course of the Suburban Experiment.

Neighborhoods, Engagement, Herriges, Top StoryDaniel HerrigesApril 20, 2022suburbs, community engagement, community, Community, neighborhood, Neighborhoods, NIMBY

High Water Victorians, Roosevelt Corner Shops, and Hipster Legos

This walking tour in Sacramento, CA, reveals much about its past and present challenges with housing.

Housing, Sanphillippo, Top StoryJohnny SanphillippoApril 18, 2022California, housing, Housing, housing affordability, housing market, missing middle, Development, affordable housing, neighborhood, Neighborhoods

Who Should Be Able to Veto New Housing Production?

Should states and counties push back against local governments to crack open more options for housing, or will that be counterproductive?

Upzoned, Podcast, Suburban Experiment, Neighborhoods, Top StoryStrong TownsApril 13, 2022Podcast, podcast, Upzoned, neighborhood, Neighborhoods, suburban experiment, suburbs, Washington DC

Not Just Bikes: The Only Car-Free Place in Canada (and Why You Can’t Live There)

Just off the coast of Toronto, Canada's largest city, you'll find a group of 15 small car-free islands. But just in case you thought you'd like to live here: you can't.

Video, Neighborhoods, Top StoryJay StangeApril 13, 2022Not Just Bikes, canada, Canada, car-lite, car culture, neighborhood, Neighborhoods, walkability, Homeownership, homeownership

The Village of Providence and Its Supposedly Impossible Stuff

You might not guess by looking, but this traditional neighborhood development is an employment powerhouse.

Economic Development, Neighborhoods, Success Story, Top StorySteve MouzonApril 11, 2022Entrepreneurship, entrepreneurship, mixed use, traditional development pattern, neighborhood, Neighborhoods, alabama, success, success stories, business, local business

In Hospitable Cities, You’re Welcomed by Design

Some neighborhoods can feel downright hostile, especially to outsiders. But many places have become this way due to inhospitable design, not inhospitable people.