Yes, Getting Rid of Parking Minimums Is Good for the Climate—But That’s Just the Tip of the Iceberg

A new, state-wide law in California has ended some parking minimums in response to climate concerns. But what’s been left unsaid in this seemingly big step toward parking reform?

Upzoned, Podcast, Top Story, Parking, End Parking MandatesStrong TownsOctober 12, 2022Podcast, podcast, Upzoned, parking minimums, parking, Parking Reform Network, parking landing page, End Parking Mandates and Subsidies

We Have Plenty of Land in the United States. But Can All of It Support Housing?

A recent article from The Wall Street Journal claims that land must be positioned in a very specific way to support more development. What’s the Strong Towns take on this?

Upzoned, Podcast, Top Story, Housing, Incremental HousingStrong TownsOctober 5, 2022Podcast, podcast, Upzoned, housing, housing crisis, Housing Crisis, Incremental Housing, developers, Development, development

The Paris of the Plains Can’t Afford Its Fountains Anymore

Kansas City is known for its beautiful fountains, but Parks and Rec says the city doesn’t have the funds to maintain this source of civic pride.

Upzoned, Podcast, Maintenance, Top Story, Transparent AccountingStrong TownsSeptember 28, 2022Podcast, podcast, Upzoned, Maintenance, Parks, Parks and Recreation, parks, Kansas City, Kansas

E-Bikes: The Frankenstein's Monster of Transportation?

A recent Atlantic piece paints e-bikes as an awkward, doomed-to-fail mashup of the motorcycle and the bicycle. What’s the Strong Towns take?

Upzoned, Podcast, Top Story, Bikeability, TransportationStrong TownsSeptember 14, 2022Podcast, podcast, Upzoned, bikes, e-bikes, biking, bicycling, bikeability, transportation

Professional Engineers: Speak Up. The Stakes Are Life and Death.

Today on Upzoned, Strong Towns Founder and President Chuck Marohn and Program Director Rachel Quednau discuss updates on the Strong Towns lawsuit, and how we got here.

Upzoned, Podcast, Top Story, Engineering Profession, Engineering ReformStrong TownsAugust 31, 2022Podcast, podcast, Upzoned, engineering profession, engineering ethics

New York's New Experiment in Fighting Gridlock

America’s first experiment with charging a toll to enter a congested urban area is going to begin in New York City next year.

Upzoned, Podcast, Top StoryStrong TownsAugust 24, 2022Podcast, podcast, Upzoned, congestion, congestion pricing, traffic congestion, New York, toll roads, transportation, traffic engineering

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

Water Wars in the Modern Wild West

Residents of Maricopa County in Arizona find themselves engaged in a war over water, as the county builds itself out beyond its means.

Upzoned, Podcast, Top Story, Suburban ExperimentStrong TownsJuly 13, 2022Podcast, podcast, Upzoned, resource, water, Arizona, Development, development pattern, suburban development pattern, environment, suburban experiment

TxDOT Proposes to Dig a $1 Billion Infrastructure Grave in Downtown Dallas

For years now, TxDOT has considered removing Interstate 345 in downtown Dallas…only to conclude their study by coming up with a much worse plan.

State Preemption: A Means To Reform Zoning, or a Threat to Localism?

State preemption is a controversial issue in the planning world—but what’s the Strong Towns stance on it?

Upzoned, Podcast, Top Story, Housing, ZoningStrong TownsJune 29, 2022Podcast, podcast, Upzoned, state government, local government, Municipalism, housing, zoning, affordable housing, housing affordability, housing activism

Looking for an Affordable Starter Home? HUD Suggests Trying a Manufactured Home.

Manufactured homes were promoted at the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s 2022 Innovative Housing Showcase. Could this be a viable affordable housing option?

Upzoned, Podcast, Top Story, HousingStrong TownsJune 22, 2022Podcast, podcast, Upzoned, housing, housing market, accessory dwelling units, affordable housing, housing affordability, federal government

NIMBY: Hero, Villain, or None of the Above?

This week’s Upzoned episode reflects on how the nuances of housing policy don’t lend themselves to broad stereotypes.

Upzoned, Podcast, Top Story, HousingStrong TownsJune 15, 2022Podcast, podcast, Upzoned, housing, Housing, housing market, NIMBY, neighborhood change, YIMBY

Inflation or Lower Housing Values: Pick Your Cleanest Dirty Shirt?

The Fed’s pandemic actions to loosen up capital unseized a market and fueled a housing boom—but now, a potential opposite reaction could lose U.S. taxpayers billions and be bad for housing.

Upzoned, Podcast, Top Story, HousingStrong TownsJune 8, 2022Podcast, podcast, Upzoned, Federal Reserve, housing, Housing, housing market, Inflation

Uber's Bull Run Is Over, Says CEO

Since a 2019 investor-fueled subsidy of America’s ride-hailing habit, Uber and Lyft prices have skyrocketed. Does this mark the beginning of the end for ridesharing apps?

Upzoned, Podcast, Top Story, TransportationStrong TownsJune 1, 2022Podcast, podcast, Upzoned, transportation, ride-hailing

Corporate Investors Own Nearly Half of This City's Residential Property

What does this case study imply for housing in the U.S., as a whole?

Upzoned, Podcast, Top Story, HousingStrong TownsMay 25, 2022Podcast, podcast, Upzoned, housing, housing crisis, Housing Crisis, housing market, Housing, housing policy, Homeownership, homeownership

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?

Upzoned, Podcast, Top Story, FinanceStrong TownsMay 18, 2022Podcast, podcast, Upzoned, banks, finance, local finance, Philadelphia

Are Cars Here to Stay?

A recent article states that “real progress on climate change will require innovations that some on the left won’t like.” What’s the Strong Towns response?

Upzoned, Podcast, Transportation, Top StoryStrong TownsMay 4, 2022Podcast, podcast, Upzoned, cars, car dependency, Climate Change, climate, Electric Vehicles, politics

Process Versus Visible Outcomes

The U.S. Department of Transportation would have you think it cares about equity—but budgets are often more telling than rhetoric.

Upzoned, Podcast, Infrastructure, Federal Government, Race, Top StoryStrong TownsApril 27, 2022Podcast, podcast, Upzoned, Infrastructure, infrastructure, federal government, federal funding, race, Race, budget

Northern Virginia Highway Plans Would Fuel a Massive Increase in Driving

North Virginia will make multi-billion dollar decisions this year on the region’s transportation future—decisions that are only going to induce more driving.