Mike McGinn: Making America More Walkable

This week on the Strong Towns Podcast, host Chuck Marohn gets to talk with Mike McGinn, executive director of America Walks.

Podcast, Marohn, Top StoryStrong TownsMay 23, 2022walkability, podcast

Wealth and Buildings

In the realm of urban planning, there’s plenty of discourse out there about housing affordability—but what about household wealth building?

I'm Retiring From the Engineering Profession

To protect our advocacy work against future harassment from the Minnesota licensing board, Strong Towns President Charles Marohn is retiring as a professional engineer.

Engineering Reform, Marohn, Top StoryCharles MarohnMay 23, 2022engineering ethics, engineers

Friday Faves - Your Weekly Strong Towns Roundup

Wilderness loss, Peppa Pig, and ride-hailing apps. These are just some of the stories from around the internet that Strong Towns staff were reading and talking about this week.

Top StoryStrong TownsMay 20, 2022friday faves

High Value, Chapter 12: Brad Riese

This week on High Value, tensions come to a head as High Value representative Brad Riese make his case for bringing the big-box store to Chippewa Falls.

High Value Serial, Top StoryHamilton LudwigMay 20, 2022High Value series, series

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?

The Bottom-Up Revolution Is...a Neighborhood Storyteller

Meet one of our weekly columnists, the fascinating Karla Theilen.

Podcast, Top Story, Neighborhood StorytellerStrong TownsMay 19, 2022podcast, neighborhoods

Join the Strong Towns Toastmasters Club!

If you want to help spread the Strong Towns message, but are held back by a fear of public speaking, then this is the club for you!

Top StoryJennifer GaughranMay 19, 2022member story, advocacy, taking action, nonprofit sector

Tyranny Won’t Get Us More Housing

Perceived threats to a home's value often prompt homeowners to shut down any discussion about neighborhood changes. But eliminating opportunities for such reactions isn’t helpful, either.

Philadelphia Is Launching the First Public Bank Owned by a City

Is this an amazing idea that could have transformative benefits for people…or a horrible idea ripe for corruption and mismanagement?

Podcast, Top StoryStrong TownsMay 18, 2022podcast, banks, finance, upzoned, pennsylvania, local economy

Strong Towns Need Strong Downtowns

A crucial part of making your city or town stronger lies in revitalizing your downtown. Here’s how one Local Conversation organizer is doing that work in her place.

Top StoryJohn PattisonMay 18, 2022advocacy, main street, small towns, community, local economy, downtown, louisiana

Cracking the Code on Fighting Highway Expansion Projects

When a highway expansion threatened to destroy a historic Black neighborhood in New Orleans, this advocate spoke out against it. Here’s how she made herself heard.

To Address the Housing Crisis, We Need a Fairer Tax System

Two charts illustrate the massive housing shortage in Buncombe County, NC, and show why we need to get property taxes right.

The Magic of Legacy Shops Comes Back to Life in Buffalo

If you live in a city or town with old, abandoned storefronts, this one’s for you!

Weaving Together Community, One Maypole at a Time

A recent wedding in Clutier, Iowa, shows the power of a community that's committed to supporting each other and maintaining their historic assets.

Learning From Las Vegas: Academic Taxonomy

If we don’t dismiss Las Vegas as just a tacky tourist trap, what can we learn from its architecture?

Top StoryJohnny SanphillippoMay 16, 2022Nevada, architecture, aesthetics

When Libertarians Support Highway Expansions

A recent Reason Foundation newsletter thinks that Strong Towns is against all highways. We’re not. We’re against all highway expansion—and you should be, too.

Friday Faves - Your Weekly Strong Towns Roundup

Finance goodwill, Billy’s Donuts, and the Baloney King. These are just some of the stories from around the internet that Strong Towns staff were reading and talking about this week.

Top StoryStrong TownsMay 13, 2022friday faves

High Value, Chapter 11: First Public Hearing

This week on High Value, tensions rise as the Chippewa Lakes planning commission begin their first official round of battle over the proposal for a new High Value grocery store.

High Value Serial, Top StoryHamilton LudwigMay 13, 2022High Value series, series